Radio Havana Cuba, Wedesday, February 24, 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 The following items are taken from Radio Havana Cuba's news service for Wednesday, February 24, 1999. Today's stories: 1.- CUBAN FOREIGN MINISTER ROBERTO ROBAINA MEETS WITH JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER KEIZO OBUCHI 2.- CUBA TO CUT TELEPHONE SERVICE TO AND FROM UNITED STATES IF FIRMS DO NOT PAY THEIR DEBTS TO THE ISLAND 3.- LEADER OF THE SALVATION ARMY VISITS CUBA 4.- NICARAGUAN STUDENTS READY TO STUDY MEDICINE IN CUBA 5.- GOVERNOR OF THE MEXICAN STATE OF GUANAJUATO PRAISES CUBA'S HEALTH CARE SYSTEM 6.- HABANO CIGAR FESTIVAL CONTINUES IN THE CUBAN CAPITAL 7.- FRENCH UNION LEADERS VISIT THE ISLAND CUBAN FOREIGN MINISTER ROBERTO ROBAINA MEETS WITH JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER KEIZO OBUCHI Tokyo, February 24(RHC)-- Visiting Cuban Foreign Minister Roberto Robaina met Wednesday with Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi. The Japanese prime minister told Robaina that he was in favor of strengthening relations between Japan and Cuba. Obuchi also said that despite some differences of opinion, he supported a frank exchange of ideas based on mutual respect. The Cuban foreign minister arrived in Japan last Monday in what he called "a political and economic offensive aimed at stepping up contacts with Tokyo" and urging the Asian nation to increase trade with and investment on the Caribbean island. In statements to reporters, Robaina insisted that Washington's aggressions against Cuba are at their highest level with the passing of the Helms-Burton Law, saying that investing in Cuba is a way to condemn the blockade. In a previous gathering with Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura, Robaina thanked Japan for its support of Cuba's anti-blockade resolutions in the United Nations General Assembly. This is the first visit to Japan of a high-ranking Cuban government official since 1982. The Cuban foreign minister's itinerary also includes visits to Vietnam and China. CUBA TO CUT TELEPHONE SERVICE TO AND FROM UNITED STATES IF FIRMS DO NOT PAY THEIR DEBTS TO THE ISLAND Havana, February 24(RHC)-- Cuba has reiterated that long- distance telephone service between the United States and the island -- established with six of eight U.S. telecommunications firms -- will be cut at one minute past 12 midnight Thursday unless they pay their debts to Cuba's telephone company, ETECSA. ETECSA will not cut services with the U.S. firm Sprint and the Puerto Rican-based firm LTDI, both of which have paid their fees. Cuba established the services in 1992, for which the island charges 75 million dollars a year. In early January, Cuban authorities warned of the pretensions of a federal judge in Miami who froze payment of those funds to satisfy the ambitions of right-wing sectors in Miami, seeking compensation for aircraft shot down after repeatedly violating Cuba's airspace. LEADER OF THE SALVATION ARMY VISITS CUBA Havana, February 24(RHC)-- The leader of the Salvation Army, General Paul Rader, is in Cuba on a friendly visit. The head of the Religious Affairs Department of the Central Committee of Cuba's Communist Party, Caridad Diego, and the leader of the island's Salvation Army, Felipe Prieto, welcomed Rader at Havana's Jose Marti International Airport. The leader of the Salvation Army is in Cuba to participate in that organization's conference entitled "Looking Toward the Year 2000." In statements to journalists, the distinguished visitor stressed the importance of his organization's work in aiding people. The religious leader also pointed out his interest in learning more about Cuba during his stay. NICARAGUAN STUDENTS READY TO STUDY MEDICINE IN CUBA Managua, February 24(RHC)-- Three hundred and forty Nicaraguan students, selected to study medicine in Cuba, will travel to the island on Saturday. All of the students come from Nicaragua's rural areas and have promised to return to those areas after they graduate as doctors. The scholarships were offered by the Cuban government last December and are part of a program that includes Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador -- designed to aid the victims of Hurricane Mitch. GOVERNOR OF THE MEXICAN STATE OF GUANAJUATO PRAISES CUBA'S HEALTH CARE SYSTEM Havana, February 24(RHC)-- The Governor of the Mexican state of Guanajuato, Vicente Fox Quesada, praised the Cuban health care system during his visit to Havana's Almeijeiras Hospital. The Mexican official said that his country lacks a centralized health program which would permit the coordination to fight epidemics and other diseases. Fox asked that Guanajuato's Health Secretary, Carlos Tena Tamayo, take notes on the Cuban experience in the field -- particularly the Family Doctor Program -- in an attempt to apply that experience in Mexico. During his visit, the governor of the Mexican state of Guanajuato also met with Cuban President Fidel Castro, whom he characterized as "an exceptional man." HABANO CIGAR FESTIVAL CONTINUES IN THE CUBAN CAPITAL Havana, February 24(RHC)-- The smoke and aroma of Cuba's famous cigars continued to delight smokers from all over the world at Havana's Convention Center as the Habano Cigar Festival ended its second day. On Wednesday, participants visited factories, attended panels and workshops on the tobacco market in the 21st century, the psychology of cigar smokers and the sale of cigars beyond the year 2000. One of the main guests at the festival is Marvin Shanken, editor of the U.S. magazine "Cigar Aficionado," who delivered a lecture entitled The Past, Present and Future of the Premium Cigar. FRENCH UNION LEADERS VISIT THE ISLAND Havana, February 24(RHC)-- The leader of the French General Workers Party, Christian Alion, said that Cuba is a leading example in the protection and rights of its workers. The French leader made the statements during a visit to the Habana Libre Industrial Complex. He added that French trade union leaders accompanying him on his visit to Cuba are interested in strengthening their solidarity with the island. During the first day of the French delegation's visit, they toured the Habana Libre Sugar Mill and asked questions about the current sugar harvest. [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-27763 1999-Feb-24 19:24:55