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 Janaury 6th 1999. Today's stories: 1. CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO CALLS FOR RENEWED EFFORTS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CRIME 2. US REPUBLICAN SENATOR ROD GRAMS HAS CALLED ON WASHINGTON TO TOTALLY LIFT THE BLOCKADE OF CUBA 3. HONDURAN YOUTHS BEGIN REGISTRATION PROCESS TO STUDY MEDICINE IN CUBA 4. IN HAVANA, PORTUGUESE NOBEL LITERATURE LAUREATE JOSE SARAMAGO SAYS SOME HUMAN RIGHTS ARE BETTER OBSERVED IN CUBA THAN IN DEVELOPED NATIONS 5. INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP "REVOLUTION AND CULTURE 40 YEARS AFTER 1959" WINDS UP IN HAVANA 6. INTERNATIONAL ENCOUNTER ON NEOLIBERAL GLOBALIZATION TO TAKE PLACE NEXT JANAURY 18TH IN THE CUBAN CAPITAL 7. THE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL OF THE INTERPARLIAMENTARY UNION CONTINUES HIS VISIT TO THE ISLAND 8. CANADA'S FOREIGN MINISTER TO VISIT CUBA ON THURSDAY 9. THE UNIVERSITY OF HAVANA CELEBRATED ITS 271 ANNIVERSARY 10. CENTRAL AMERICAN MEDICAL SCHOOL SCHEDULED TO START NEXT MARCH CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO CALLS FOR RENEWED EFFORTS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CRIME Havana, January 6, RHC -- Cuban President Fidel Castro has called on the nation for renewed efforts in the fight against crimes that have grown with the country's economic opening and tourism. In a 5 hour speech on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the founding of Cuba's National Revolutionary Police, the Cuban leader said he wouldn't talk about repugnant crimes like rape and murder, since they continue to be very reduced in Cuba. He dedicated particular attention to prostitution and procurement, the corruption of minors and narco trafficking -- all of them crimes not seen during the first 30 years of the Cuban Revolution. The Cuban leader said that the pimps who exploit women or corrupt minors should receive extremely stiff prison sentences -- no less, he added, than 20 years in prison. President Castro also made reference to efforts to use Cuba as a transhipment point for drugs. Cases of foreigners organizing such efforts with the help of Cubans have grown in recent years. The leader of the Cuban Revolution called on the National Revolutionary Police to redouble efforts in the fight against crime, called on the population and the country's numerous mass organizations to contribute to this effort, and said that it may be time to revise the country's penal code. US REPUBLICAN SENATOR ROD GRAMS HAS CALLED ON WASHINGTON TO TOTALLY LIFT THE BLOCKADE OF CUBA Havana, January 6, RHC -- US Republican Senator for the state of Minnesota, Rod Grams, has termed as positive President Bill Clinton's announced measures with respect to Cuba, but said it would be better to totally lift Washington's unilateral sanctions against the island. Senator Grams stated that for too long Washington has based its foreign policy on antiquated instruments of unilateral sanctions and embargoes in an effort to influence change around the world. He said that despite almost 40 years of blockade, Fidel Castro is still in power, and that the measure has only caused suffering among the Cuban people. The US Senator also deplored Clinton's rejection of a bipartisan commission to revise the entirety of Washington's Cuba policy. Grams is one of 24 Senators who in a letter to Clinton proposed the setting up of such a bipartisan commission. He said that upon rejecting the idea, Clinton rejected common sense -- adding that after years of an ineffective embargo it's time for an independent revision of the US's relation with Cuba. HONDURAN YOUTHS BEGIN REGISTRATION PROCESS TO STUDY MEDICINE IN CUBA Havana, January 6 (RHC)- Some 420 Honduran youths have reportedly registered in a program for 3 hundred scholarships to study medicine in Cuba, offered by Cuban President Fidel Castro to help the Central American nation recover from the devastation caused by Hurricane Mitch. The director of the Honduran Foreign Ministry's cultural affairs office, Maruca Dipp, stated that aspirants are registering every day, and that there will be a process of selection. She said the scholarships will be distributed according to the poverty rates of Honduras' 18 departments, prioritizing the most needy areas. The Foreign Ministry official added that the country's most impoverished regions will be granted up to 22 scholarships to study medicine in Cuba. The scholarships will be available as of next March, under an agreement to be signed shortly between the governments of Cuba and Honduras. In reference to the seven Cuban medical brigades in Honduras offering their services to hurricane victims in remote regions. Honduras' Health Ministry pointed out that the Cuban physicians have consulted over 60 thousand people, and performed 2 hundred major surgeries and 6 hundred minor surgeries. IN HAVANA, PORTUGUESE NOBEL LITERATURE LAUREATE JOSE SARAMAGO SAYS SOME HUMAN RIGHTS ARE BETTER OBSERVED IN CUBA THAN IN DEVELOPED NATIONS Havana, January 6, RHC -- In Havana, Portuguese Nobel Literature laureate Jose Saramago has asserted that some human right are better observed in Cuba than in developed countries that claim to be cultured, civilized and democratic. While participating in Havana's workshop dubbed "Culture and Revolution 40 Years After 1959, Saramago stated that western nations promote political rights while forgetting others that are contained in the universal declaration of human rights. He insisted that those other rights have been and continue to be observed in Cuba much more than in developed nations that are allegedly civilized and democratic. The famed novelist said that no country in the world is a temple or shrine of respect for human rights, that there are no sanctified leaders or celestial policies. Saramago recognized that Cuba has its problems and contradictions, but insisted that Cuba is on the right path to resolve them. He said the words that Cuban President Fidel Castro has pronounced in recent days clearly demonstrate that if there is a possibility for a human being to be a human being, that possibility exists in Cuba. In statements concerning the theme democracy, Saramago said the world is involved in a process of globalization that is fundamentally economic. This reality, he added, makes democracy impossible since citizens are unable to exercise political control over this process. The nobel laureate said that what is particular about Cuba is its refusal to forget, while most of the planet is living a drunkardness on modern development that does away with the past. INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP "REVOLUTION AND CULTURE 40 YEARS AFTER 1959" Havana, January (RHC)-- The International Workshop "Revolution and Culture 40 Years After 1959" has wound up in the Cuban capital with a reflection on neoliberal globalization's dangers for humanity. Cuban President Fidel Castro participated in the event which sparked contacts among revolutionaries and illustrated the need to look at the future with optimism. Ecuatoran artist Oswaldo Guayasamin participated in the event and proposed to create a workshop that would help finance art work, the sale of which would go toward the Cuban medical brigades that are currently offering their services in several central american nations as well as Haiti, that were affected by Hurricanes Mitch and Georges. The participants also discussed Cuba"s challenges amidst its economic crisis, Washington's almost 40 year blockade against the island, the collapse of socialism in eastern Europe and globalization. Sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, the two day workshop gathered friends of Cuba like Portuguese writer and 1998 Nobel Literature Prize laureate, Jose Saramago and Brazilian poet Thiago de Melo. THE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL OF THE INTERPALIAMENTARY UNION CONTINUES HIS VISIT TO THE ISLAND Havana, January 6 (RHC)-- The President of the Council of the Interparliamentary Union, Miguel Angel Martinez met with Cuban Vice President Carlos Lage and the president of the Cuban Parliament Ricardo Alarcon. Martinez, who arrived in Havana on Monday at the invitation of the Cuban National Assembly will remain on the island until the 14th of this month. The representative of the world"s oldest international organization is scheduled to meet the Minister of Foreign Investment and Economic Cooperation Ibrahim Ferradaz and visit the Jose Marti Memorial and Old Havana. This is the third visit of the President of the Council of Interparliamentary Union to Cuba. This organization groups 136 of the world's parliaments. INTERNATIONAL ENCOUNTER ON NEOLIBERAL GLOBALIZATION TO TAKE PLACE NEXT JANAURY 18TH IN THE CUBAN CAPITAL Havana, January 6 (RHC)-- Representatives of some 48 countries and 15 international organizations have confirmed their participation at the International Encounter on Neoliberal Globalization scheduled to take place from the 18th to the 22nd of this month in Havana. The President of the Association of Latin American and Caribbean Economists as well as the Association of Cuban Economists Roberto Verrier said that the main objective of the event is to look for new ideas and possible solutions to the economic situation in today's world. He added that among some of the participants will be 469 economists, a representative of the UN General Secretary as well as the World Bank, Interamerican Development Bank, Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean and specialized publications on the issue from France, Cuba, Spain and Mexico. Some of the issues that will be discussed during the International Encounter on Neoliberal Globalization will be the history of globalization, an analysis of the world commercial and financial system, the social and environmental impact of this phenomenon and the perspectives and future of neoliberal globalization. CANADA'S FOREIGN MINISTER TO VISIT CUBA ON THURSDAY Havana, January 6 (RHC)-- Canada's Foreign Minister Lloyd Axworthy will visit Cuba on Thursday as part of a tour to the region. During his stay in Cuba, the Canadian Foreign Minister will meet with his Cuban counterpart Roberto Robaina and other government officials. This trip is an example of the friendly ties between Ottawa and Havana. Canada's Prime Minister Jean Chretian visited the island last April aimed at strengthening the already close ties between both countries. THE UNIVERSITY OF HAVANA CELEBRATED ITS 271 ANNIVERSARY Havana, January 6 (RHC)-- Professors and Students celebrated the 271 anniversary of the University of Havana. Among some of the participants at the ceremony was Havana Historian, Eusebio Leal, the Dean of the University, Juan Vela, Monsignors Carlos Manuel de Cespedes and Fray Manuel Una. The University of Havana was founded by the Dominican religious order on January 5th 1728. CENTRAL AMERICAN MEDICAL SCHOOL SCHEDULED TO START NEXT MARCH Havana, January 6 (RHC)-- The Central American Medical School will start classes next march as part of a program aimed at helping that region improve its health situation, according to Cuban Health Minister, Dr. Carlos Dotres. At a Havana press conference Wednesday, the Cuban health minister said that the Cuban sponsored initiative will benefit some 5500 young people from that area. The school, whose headquarters will be at the former Cuban Navy School, is currently being refurbished to receive one thousand Central American students this year. The students will receive a preparation course from march through july and will begin the first year of their career in September. AT the Central American Medical School, the students will study basic sciences for two years and will later be distributed among the island's 21 medical schools. [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. 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