Radio Havana Cuba, July 23, 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 Friday, July 23, 1999. Today's stories: 1.- CUBA ACCUMULATES 9 MEDALS, 3 OF THEM GOLD, AT WINNIPEG '99 2.- WASHINGTON ALLOWS PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY TO MARKET CUBAN MENINGITIS-B VACCINE 3.- CUBAN FOREIGN TRADE MINISTER ARRIVES IN BELGIUM TO PARTICIPATE IN AFRICAN-CARIBBEAN-PACIFIC COUNCIL OF MINISTERS 4.- HONDURAN ORGANIZATIONS DEMAND GUARANTEE FOR CUBAN DOCTORS 5.- CUBAN WORKERS DONATE OVER $70,000 TO HEALTH PROGRAMS 6.- IT'S CARNIVAL TIME IN HAVANA! CUBA ACCUMULATES 9 MEDALS, 3 OF THEM GOLD, AT WINNIPEG '99 Winnipeg, July 23(RHC)-- Cuba has accumulated nine medals, three of them gold, in canoeing competitions at Winnipeg '99. Cuba came in second place with three gold, three silver and three bronze -- behind first place Canada with four gold, three silver and one bronze. Although Argentina was third, Argentinean rower Javier Correa was crowned as King Midas, with three gold and one silver in the four competitions in which he competed. The United States garnered a pale fourth place, after having dominated this discipline in the Mar del Plata '95 Panams. The U.S. took nine medals, but only two were gold. In Mar del Plata, the U.S. canoeing team came in first, with five gold and four silver. Cuba repeated its second place in these games, though with one gold less. The canoeing competitions came to a conclusion Friday morning, even though the official inauguration of the games yet hadn't taken place. Brazil was fifth, with 0-2-3, and Mexico sixth, with 0-0-1. WASHINGTON ALLOWS PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY TO MARKET CUBAN MENINGITIS-B VACCINE Washington, July 23(RHC)-- The U.S. government will reportedly allow the Smith-Kline Beecham pharmaceutical firm to market Cuba's meningitis-B vaccine, according to Friday's edition of The Wall Street Journal. A government spokesperson in Washington told the newspaper, on condition of anonymity, that the license was granted for health and humanitarian reasons. The vaccine was developed in 1985 by Havana's medical research center Finlay Institute and has been successfully marketed in Brazil, Colombia and Argentina, among other countries. Although Smith-Kline Beecham is a British firm, its research installations in Belgium are the property of a U.S. subsidiary -- and therefore must abide by Washington's blockade of Cuba. According to The Wall Street Journal, the U.S. Treasury Department license allows the firm to pay for the vaccines with food and medicine. But once Smith-Kline Beecham begins to sell the vaccine -- after a clinical-testing phase -- Cuba will receive its royalties in cash. The pharmaceutical firm had requested the license some months ago. The petition received the backing of numerous sectors of U.S. society, as well as the U.S. media, pointing out the absurdity of depriving American citizens of Cuban medical technology that can save lives. CUBAN FOREIGN TRADE MINISTER ARRIVES IN BELGIUM TO PARTICIPATE IN THE AFRICAN-CARIBBEAN-PACIFIC COUNCIL OF MINISTERS Brussels, July 23(RHC)-- Cuban Foreign Trade Minister Ricardo Cabrisas is in Belgium to participate in the 49th Session of the Council of Ministers of the African-Caribbean-Pacific countries and the 24th meeting of this group with the European Union. The Cuban delegation led by Cabrisas will also take part in the Second Ministerial Conference in negotiations between Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific with the European Union. Speaking with reporters in Havana before his departure, Cabrisas said that preliminary meetings will begin on Sunday, prior to the Caribbean regional group. During the session of the group's Council of Ministers, the participants will discuss topics related to political and trade issues, in addition to discussing upcoming negotiations for a new Lome Convention. Cuba has been an observer to the negotiations since May of last year. The foreign trade minister announced that he will meet in Belgium with his Caribbean, African and Pacific counterparts. HONDURAN ORGANIZATIONS DEMAND GUARANTEE FOR CUBAN DOCTORS Tegucigalpa, July 23(RHC)-- Honduran grassroots organizations are demanding that the government sign an agreement which will guarantee the presence of Cuban doctors offering their services free-of-charge to the victims of Hurricane Mitch. Doctor Juan Almendares, head of a coalition of non- governmental groups, said that Honduran health workers and other activists will take to the streets to demand that the Cuban doctors be allowed to stay in the Central American country. Almendares stated that it is a serious mistake that some members of the Honduran School of Medicine want the Cuban doctors and technicians to leave the country, emphasizing that their position has been strongly criticized by the local press. The Honduran health professional added that the Cuban medical brigade is offering its services in remote areas where no Honduran doctors would ever go. CUBAN WORKERS DONATE OVER $70,000 TO HEALTH PROGRAMS Havana, July 23(RHC)-- Cuban workers have donated over 70,000 dollars for the development of the maternal-infant program and the fight against cancer. This periodic contribution, which takes place every six years, covers 45 percent of what the island purchases for certain medication. Workers from the tourism, arts, transportation, light industry, trade and other sectors contribute their tips for the island's program in the fight against cancer. IT'S CARNIVAL TIME IN HAVANA! Havana, July 23(RHC)-- Havana residents will take to the streets this evening to celebrate the traditional Carnival, which runs through August 15th. Booths have been set up along the capital's seaside drive, known as the Malecon, and special children's events have been organized. There will be floats and dance troupes in the streets, keeping Cuban rhythms going into the wee hours of the morning. Over the past few years, the Carnival has been somewhat subdued due to the economic hardships of the Special Period. However, this year's preparations have reverted back to tradition and Havana residents are anxious to hit the streets once again and celebrate. [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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