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 Tuesday, February 2, 1999. Today's stories: 1.- CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO IN VENEZUELA FOR INAUGURATION OF PRESIDENT-ELECT HUGO CHAVEZ 2.- INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE PEDAGOGY '99 CONTINUES IN HAVANA 3.- THE DUTCH ANTILLES WILL INCREASE RELATIONS WITH CUBA 4.- NICARAGUA EXTENDS STAY OF CUBAN DOCTORS 5.- U.S. JEWISH DELEGATION CURRENTLY VISITS THE ISLAND 6.- CUBA AND FRANCE SIGN TELEVISION COOPERATION AGREEMENT CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO IN VENEZUELA FOR INAUGURATION OF PRESIDENT-ELECT HUGO CHAVEZ Caracas, February 2(RHC)-- Cuban President Fidel Castro was the center of media attention in Venezuela on Tuesday. The Cuban leader arrived in Caracas Monday evening and attended today's swearing-in ceremony of Venezuelan President-elect Hugo Chavez. Venezuelan media outlets unanimously hailed the Cuban leader as the principal figure amid the large number of invited foreign guests. A commentator from the Globo Vision TV network said that whatever opinion one may have of Fidel Castro, it is always interesting and important to converse with "the undeniable protagonist of modern political history in this region of the world." The news daily Asi Es La Noticia stated that despite the passage of time, though his beard is whiter, whether dressed in military uniform or suit and tie, the Cuban leader's presence always generates a great deal of admiration. The daily El Nacional -- with the largest circulation in Venezuela -- headlined its story on President Castro with the title "I Have Come to Share the Hopes of the Venezuelan People" -- the Cuban leader's words upon arriving in Caracas, the capital. The leader of the Cuban Revolution held private talks with Hugo Chavez and several of his newly-appointed ministers into the early morning hours. INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE PEDAGOGY '99 CONTINUES IN HAVANA Havana, February 2(RHC)-- At Monday night's inaugural ceremony of the International Conference Pedagogy '99, Cuba's Education Minister Ignacio Gomez dedicated the event to "the silent but cultivating work of teachers, personifying dignity and hope." Gomez added that it was impressive to see over 5000 teachers from more than 30 countries, many of whom participated in the preparation of over 2000 presentations that will be discussed during the conference, held at Havana's International Convention Center. Cuban Education Minister Ignacio Gomez stressed that the island will create a Reference Center for Primary Education and make it available to UNESCO and all Latin American educators. During the inaugural ceremony, Cuba's minister of education said that Cuban teachers are completely dedicated to their students, "with the absolute assurance that no school will ever be closed and no teacher will ever be left without a job." Gomez said that for there to be real human rights, there cannot be one single school or hospital for rich or poor, black or white. The Cuban education minister also warned delegates at the Pedagogy '99 Conference not to be confused about U.S. President Bill Clinton's recent announcement of measures that supposedly ease Washington's blockade against Cuba. On the contrary, said the Cuban official, the U.S. blockade is stronger than ever. Pedagogy '99 -- "For the Unity of Latin American Teachers" -- will run through Friday with numerous work commissions that will discuss teaching systems and the relationships between school, family and community. THE DUTCH ANTILLES WILL INCREASE RELATIONS WITH CUBA Havana, February 2(RHC)-- The Minister of Education, Sports, Culture and Youth from the Dutch Antilles, Phillip Nieuw, stated that possibilities of cooperation and exchange with Cuba have improved and will be broadened. Nieuw is participating in the International Conference Pedagogy '99, currently underway in the Cuban capital. The Caribbean government official said that a great deal can be learned from Cuba and its Revolution, "from its defense of national identity and the education of a conscious people to preserve that identity and culture." NICARAGUA EXTENDS STAY OF CUBAN DOCTORS Managua, February 2(RHC)-- Nicaragua's Minister of Health Martha McCoy announced on Tuesday that she will request the presence of Cuban health professionals in Nicaragua for the rest of this year, calling their contribution "effective and decisive" in the control of epidemics. The first Cuban medical contingent arrived in Nicaragua in November to offer their services in the country's most remote regions. The Cuban medical cooperation was first rejected by Nicaraguan authorities, claiming that the Central American country was capable of facing the chaotic health situation caused by Hurricane Mitch. Cuban assistance began shortly after seven Nicaraguans died of leptospirosis --a disease transmitted by rats. The first 18 Cuban health workers who arrived in Nicaragua were divided into six brigades made up of three specialists each -- a general practitioner, an epidemiologist and a nurse -- and were located in the communities where there were reports of deaths from leptospirosis as well as other communities threatened with the spread of cholera and dengue. One month later, Cuban medical personnel had already treated over 10,000 patients. Their work, together with epidemiological measures, won them the admiration of Nicaraguan authorities -- including President Arnoldo Aleman, who visited some of the Cuban medical brigades accompanied by Cuba's Foreign Minister Roberto Robaina. The extraordinary performance of this first Cuban medical contingent led Nicaragua to request the presence of another 45 Cuban doctors to assist indigenous communities on the country's Atlantic Coast, where there had never been a doctor before. The second contingent arrived in Nicaragua on January 7th and while six of its members were to reinforce the previous brigades, the rest formed nine new brigades. There are also Cuban doctors offering their assistance in the capital in a clinic run by religious workers. The presence of the Cuban health specialists, not only in Nicaragua but also in other Central American nations, is in response to an offer by Cuban President Fidel Castro to send medical personnel to assist the victims of the hurricane for as long as that assistance is required. In addition, Cuba proposed an integral health program which includes sending up to 2000 Cuban doctors to the region and the granting of 500 scholarships annually for Central American students who wish to study medicine on the Caribbean island. U.S. JEWISH DELEGATION CURRENTLY VISITS THE ISLAND Santa Clara, February 2(RHC)-- Some 30 Jewish-Americans, currently touring Cuba, visited the Ernesto Che Guevara Memorial in the central city of Santa Clara. During their stay on the island, the Jewish delegation from the U.S. city of Chicago praised relations between the government and Cuba's Jewish community. There are approximately 500 Jewish families in Cuba, numbering some 1500 people. CUBA AND FRANCE SIGN TELEVISION COOPERATION AGREEMENT Havana, February 2(RHC)-- Representatives from Cuba and France have signed a television cooperation agreement which includes an exchange of programs and TV co-productions. Cooperation between both countries will permit a broad exchange between Cuba, France and the former French colonies of Guadalupe, Martinique and New Caledonia. The exchange program and television co-productions will include musical and educational programs, as well as TV shows on health and the environment. [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