Radio Havana Cuba, 5 July 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 Monday, July 5, 1999. Today's stories: 1.- CUBAN INTERIOR MINISTRY DENOUNCES ANOTHER CASE OF TRAFFICKING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM U.S. TERRITORY 2.- HAVANA COURT BEGINS HEARING EVIDENCE IN MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR SUIT AGAINST U.S. GOVERNMENT 3.- CUBAN AND FOREIGN DELEGATES TO 10th CARIBBEAN FESTIVAL PAY TRIBUTE TO CUBA'S NATIONAL HERO JOSE MARTI 4.- VIETNAMESE NEWSPAPER OUTLINES ECONOMIC TIES WITH CUBA 5.- CANADIAN STUDENTS VISIT ERNESTO CHE GUEVARA MEMORIAL 6.- CUBAN WOMEN'S DELEGATION TAKES PART IN UNITED NATIONS SESSION IN GENEVA 7.- PRESIDENT OF SPAIN'S SUPREME COUNCIL OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, INDUSTRY AND NAVIGATION WINDS UP VISIT 8.- HONEY DERIVATIVES FOR THE TREATMENT OF HEALTH AILMENTS HAVE EXCELLENT RESULTS ON THE ISLAND CUBAN INTERIOR MINISTRY DENOUNCES ANOTHER CASE OF TRAFFICKING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM U.S. TERRITORY Havana, July 5(RHC)-- Cuba's Interior Ministry has denounced another case of trafficking of illegal Cuban immigrants in vessels coming from U.S. territory. The Interior Ministry reported that late Saturday, a speed-boat with 14 Cubans aboard capsized some seven miles off Cuba's northern shore. One 45-year-old man drowned but a Cuban coast guard patrol was able to save the lives of four other men, four women and five children. Cuban authorities arrested Joel Dorta Garcia -- owner of the ship and resident in U.S. territory -- and his co-pilot David Garcia Capote, also a resident of Florida. These two individuals said they worked for another U.S. citizen who collects 8000 dollars from the family members in the United States of Cubans participating in illegal departures. The Cuban Interior Ministry said that this is just one of many cases of the illegal trafficking business in vessels leaving the Florida coastline. Cuban authorities have expressed a willingness to send the traffickers arrested over the weekend, as well as others arrested in the recent past, back to the United States to be tried by U.S. courts. The Interior Ministry asserted, however, that Havana has sent reports to U.S. authorities concerning this activity, but has yet to receive a response from Washington. HAVANA COURT BEGINS HEARING EVIDENCE IN MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR SUIT AGAINST U.S. GOVERNMENT Havana, July 5(RHC)-- A court in Havana today began hearing testimony and receiving evidence in a multi-billion dollar suit against the United States government for 40 years of aggression. More than 100 witnesses are expected to testify at Havana's Provincial Court in a 181 billion dollar lawsuit against Washington for the death and injury of more than 5000 Cubans since 1959. Four attorneys are representing the eight Cuban grassroots and labor organizations filing the suit. The court will analyze the evidence over a period of 30 days, while the trial proceedings will be aired live on Cuban national TV. The first testimony and documentary evidence presented before the court was in relation to the armed bandits that operated in Cuba's Escambray Mountains between 1960 and 1965. The plaintiffs intend to demonstrate that thiscounterrevolutionary operation was financed, equipped and directed by the U.S. government during the Dwight D. Eisenhower administration through the Central Intelligence Agency. During that period, nearly 4000 bandits operated in 299 armed groups. A total of 549 Cubans were killed as a result. And among the many Cubans wounded, 200 were permanently disabled. CUBAN AND FOREIGN DELEGATES TO 10th CARIBBEAN FESTIVAL PAY TRIBUTE TO CUBA'S NATIONAL HERO JOSE MARTI Santiago de Cuba, July 5(RHC)-- Cuban and foreign delegates to the 10th Caribbean Festival in eastern Santiago de Cuba paid tribute to the island's National Hero, Jose Marti, at the mausoleum where he is buried in Santa Efigenia Cemetery. During a solemn ceremony, poets, artists and historical experts outlined Jose Marti's contribution to universal literature and his efforts toward Caribbean integration. The Caribbean Festival, which got underway Saturday, includes a variety of programs, among them International Poetry, and the Caribbean and World Workshops. A Cultural Gala in Santiago's Heredia Theater was held Sunday where participants were able to enjoy classical music and folklore from Cuba and other countries in the region. The Oriente Gallery is offering a special exhibit of paintings with peculiar characteristics of each Caribbean country. VIETNAMESE NEWSPAPER OUTLINES ECONOMIC TIES WITH CUBA Havana, July 5(RHC)-- Vietnam's daily Le Courrier published an article on Monday outlining the economic ties between Cuba and Vietnam. The daily points out that bilateral commercial exchange between 1991 and 1998 reached an annual average of over 176 million dollars, with a balance of trade that favors Hanoi by some 137 million dollars. Le Courrier reports that Cuba purchases rice, bicycles, coal, crafts and art objects from Vietnam. The article in Monday's edition of the Vietnamese daily newspaper adds that with the upcoming visit of the General Secretary of Vietnam's Communist Party Le Kha Fieu to Cuba, bilateral relations will further strengthen. CANADIAN STUDENTS VISIT ERNESTO CHE GUEVARA MEMORIAL Santa Clara, July 5(RHC)-- Over 160 Canadian students visited the Ernesto Che Guevara Memorial in the central city of Santa Clara over the weekend, as well as other historic places in the region. Solidarity with Cuba organizer in the Canadian province of Quebec, Colette Labergne, told reporters that this is the sixth time that the group has organized student tours of the island. She added that during their visits, students take part in other activities that contribute to their knowledge of the country. As on previous trips, the group has donated medicine and school materials for Cuban students. They will also do voluntary work in agriculture and help refurbish a school together with Cuban student work brigades. During their 15-day visit, the Canadian group will be staying at the Rafael Silverio School and the Ismaelillo Children's Camp, located in central Cienfuegos province. CUBAN WOMEN'S DELEGATION TAKES PART IN UNITED NATIONS SESSION IN GENEVA Geneva, July 5(RHC)-- A Cuban delegation headed by the General Secretary of the Federation of Cuban Women, Yolanda Ferrer, is in Geneva to participate in a session of the United Nations Social Economic Council. The meeting, which began on Monday and will run through Wednesday, is dedicated to women and poverty as well as the role of employment to help solve social problems. The Cuban official told journalists that during the event, participants will learn about the experience of Cuban women and their participation in the economic, political and social life of the country during the past 40 years of the Cuban Revolution. PRESIDENT OF SPAIN'S SUPREME COUNCIL OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, INDUSTRY AND NAVIGATION WINDS UP VISIT Havana, July 5(RHC)-- The President of Spain's Supreme Council of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Navigation Jose Manuel Fernandez Noriella characterized his visit to Havana as "very positive." In statements to reporters, the Spanish official referred to the increasing interest by business executives of his country in doing business with Cuba, as well as ways to expand mutual cooperation in the energy sector, services, tourism and finances. Jose Manuel Fernandez Noriella said that Havana's International Trade Fair is one of Iberoamerica's most important trade events and will serve to help increase bilateral relations. HONEY DERIVATIVES FOR THE TREATMENT OF HEALTH AILMENTS HAVE EXCELLENT RESULTS ON THE ISLAND Havana, July 5(RHC)-- The use of honey derivatives for the treatment of different health ailments have had excellent results in numerous Havana hospitals and other health centers in Matanzas and Holguin provinces. Dr. Teresa Giral, head of the Honey Project at the Ministry of Agriculture, told AIN News Agency that some honey derivatives have been used to treat iron deficiency, high blood pressure, burns and psoriasis. Havana hospitals like Salvador Allende and Calixto Garcia, as well as the Juan Manuel Marquez Children's Hospital, have all used the economical medication. Four important events have been held recently on the island concerning the use of honey and its derivatives. [c] 1999, Radio Habana Cuba All rights reserved Articles cannot be reproduced, reprinted or published in any system without the consent of RHC. 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