Radio Havana Cuba, February 22, 1999 Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit CUBANEWS FROM RADIO HAVANA CUBA E-mail: rhc@radiohc.org http://www.radiohc.org Radio Havana Cuba's English Language for this Monday February 22, 1999. These are the stories broadcast by Radio Havana Cuba's English language service on February 22, 1999. These are the headlines: 1. CUBA'S HEALTH MINISTER ANNOUNCES SPECIAL GROUP TO CONTROL THE ILLEGAL SALE OF MEDICINES 2. THE ALLIANCE OF WORKERS OF THE CUBAN COMMUNITY TO HONOR THE ORGANIZATION 'S LATE LEADER, WALFRIDO MORENO 3. THE ANNUAL HABANO FESTIVAL KICKS OFF IN THE CUBAN CAPITAL 4. DIRECT FLIGHTS BETWEEN HAVANA AND BOLIVIA INAUGURATED ON SUNDAY 5. ROUND TABLE ORGANIZED BY THE BRITISH MAGAZINE THE ECONOMIST GETS UNDERWAY IN HAVANA 6. CUBAN FOREIGN MINISTER ROBERTO ROBAINA ARRIVES IN JAPAN FOR DAY OFFICIAL VISIT CUBA'S HEALTH MINISTER ANNOUNCES SPECIAL GROUP TO CONTROL THE ILLEGAL SALE OF MEDICINES Havana, February 22 (RHC)-- Cuba's Health Minister Carlos Dotres, has announced the creation of a special group in charge of controlling the illegal sale of medicine on the island. The new group, which will work in coordination with the police and the Justice Ministry, hasits main purpose to stop the underground sale of medicine. The Cuban Health official said that the group will oversee medicines in all the health institutions including , pharmacies, hospitals and clinics as well as controlling medical prescription. According to official statistics, last year Cuba registered an infant mortality rate of 7.1 per one thousand live births, the lowest in Latin America, performed over 800 thousand operations, increased outpatient surgery and mounted massive vaccination . campaigns. Primary medical attention received across the island was reflected in the reduction of emergency cases this past year. The Cuban Health Minister stressed that the island's health care system is based on prevention. THE ALLIANCE OF WORKERS OF THE CUBAN COMMUNITY TO HONOR THE ORGANIZATION 'S LATE LEADER, WALFRIDO MORENO Havana, February 22 (RHC)-- Members of the Alliance of Workers of the Cuban Community will hold an activity in honor of their late leader, Walfrido Moreno, at Miami's Hilton Towers. Moreno was a promoter of the normalization of relations between the Cuban community in the United States and the island. Walfrido Moreno died early this month in Havana and was buried in the Emigrant's Mausoleum in the capital's Colon Cemetery. The leader of the Alliance of Workers of the Cuban Community, ATC, emigrated to the United States in the 1940's and was one of the founders of the Pro independence 26 of July Movement. He also worked with the US solidarity organization Pastors for Peace in organizing humanitarian aid to the Caribbean island. Sponsored the ATC and the Antonio Maceo Brigade, the activity will honor Moreno's work in favor of ending Washington's almost 40 year old blockade against Cuba. THE ANNUAL HABANO FESTIVAL KICKS OFF IN THE CUBAN CAPITAL Havana, February 22 (RHC)-- Close to a thousand international personalities from the business, tourism and art sectors are in the Cuban capital to participate in the Annual Habano Festival. The event, which runs through Friday, includes an international symposium and a trade fair. Participants will have the opportunity to exchange experiences on the production and commercialization of Cuban cigars. In 1998, Cuba produced 160 million cigars for exportation while that number is expected to increase this year to 200 million of the internationally recognized cigars. DIRECT FLIGHTS BETWEEN HAVANA AND BOLIVIA INAUGURATED ON SUNDAY Havana, February 22 (RHC)-- The first direct flights between Havana and Bolivia were inaugurated on Sunday. Three Bolivian officials visited Havana to analyze various cooperation projects with Cuban government officials. The Havana-Santa Cruz flights will be made by Cubana airlines once a week. ROUND TABLE ORGANIZED BY THE BRITISH MAGAZINE THE ECONOMIST GETS UNDERWAY IN HAVANA Havana, February 22 (RHC)-- A three day round table organized by the British magazine, The Economist, has kicked off in Havana with the objective of analyzing business opportunities on the island. The event will include visits to free trade zones and economic centers including real estate, biotechnology and heavy industry. During the round table discussions participants will meet with the Cuban Ministers of Sugar, Foreign Investment and Economic Cooperation and with the President of the Cuban Central Bank. CUBAN FOREIGN MINISTER ROBERTO ROBAINA ARRIVES IN JAPAN FOR 5-DAY OFFICIAL VISIT Havana, February 22, RHC -- Cuban Foreign Minister Roberto Robain has arrived in Japan for a 5-day official visit. Robaina met Monday with his Japanese counterpart Masahiko Komura. The Japanese Foreign Minister reportedly expressed satisfaction over the building of friendly and constructive relations between the two countries during the past few years. He also expressed satisfaction over last year's renegotiation of Cuba's debt to Japan's private sector, but pointed out the the island still has an official debt to Japan and a debt to the country's banking sector. Komura and The Cuban Foreign Minister spoke of the possibility of direct flights between Tokyo and Havana to encourage more Japanese tourism to Cuba. The Japanese Foreign Minister said, however, that travel demand in Japan was currently low, though there is a possibility of setting up charter flights. Komura made a committment to send this year teams of Japanese experts to participate in the cleaning of the Havana Bay and the restoration of Old Havana. Robaina took the opportunity to thank Komura for Japan's support in the United Nations of the lifting of Washington's blockade against Cuba. The Cuban Foreign Minister's Asia tour will also include Vietnam and China. [c] 1999, Radio Habana Cuba All rights reserved Articles cannot be reproduced, reprinted or published in any system without the consent of RHC. This prohibition includes the distribution of this material via Usenet News, "bulletin board" services, e-mail lists, print media, radio and television. For the complete RADIO HAVANA CUBA NEWSCAST and other features, please write for our daily broadcast schedule. We welcome your comments and suggestions. For further information, contact us at: Postal Address: Radio Havana Cuba P.O.Box 6240 Havana, Cuba Telephone: (53) (7) 791053 Fax: (53) (7) 795007 E-mail: rhc@radiohc.org WWW: http://www.radiohc.org rhc-eng-7503 1999-Feb-23 12:19:18