Radio Havana Cuba, Monday, July 26, 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 26, 1999. Today's stories: 1.- FESTIVE ATMOSPHERE PREVAILS IN CIENFUEGOS, CO-SITE OF JULY 26th CELEBRATIONS 2.- BOOK LAUNCHED IN CIENFUEGOS TO COMMEMORATE CUBA'S NATIONAL DAY OF REBELLION 3.- VIETNAM SENDS MESSAGE ON OCCASION OF THE 46th ANNIVERSARY OF THE ATTACK ON THE MONCADA BARRACKS 4.- SOLIDARITY WITH CUBA GROUPS IN ISRAEL DEMAND END OF WASHINGTON'S BLOCKADE 5.- CUBAN ATHLETES CELEBRATE NATIONAL DAY OF REBELLION 6.- CUBAN IRON AND STEEL INDUSTRY CONTINUES TO DEVELOP FESTIVE ATMOSPHERE PREVAILS IN CIENFUEGOS, CO-SITE OF JULY 26th CELEBRATIONS Cienfuegos, July 26(RHC)-- A festive atmosphere prevailed in the Cuban city of Cienfuegos, co-site of the island's July 26th celebrations. This year, one of Cuba's most important national holidays commemorates the 46th anniversary of the armed assault against the Batista dictatorship's Moncada military garrison in Santiago de Cuba. Cienfuegos, which on three occasions has been awarded the site of the central activity, has been granted recognition of its advances in sugar production and other agro sectors, as well as its development in the tourism industry. Known as the Day of National Rebellion, the main activity will begin at 7 p.m. local time and will be transmitted live on national television and several international shortwave frequencies of Radio Havana Cuba. Cuban President Fidel Castro is expected to speak before more than 100,000 Cienfuegos residents and invited foreign guests, including the U.S. solidarity group Venceremos Brigade. The other co-site -- Matanzas -- will hold its commemoration next week -- Monday, August 2nd. The assault on the Moncada garrison is considered in Cuba the beginning of the liberation struggle that culminated with the 1959 revolutionary victory. BOOK LAUNCHED IN CIENFUEGOS TO COMMEMORATE CUBA'S NATIONAL DAY OF REBELLION Cienfuegos, July 26(RHC)-- As part of activities to commemorate the 46th anniversary of the attack on the Moncada and Carlos Manuel de Cespedes Barracks, a book on the history of two well-known march songs linked to the Cuban Revolution was launched in the south central city of Cienfuegos. "Two Heroic Marches" is the title of a book launched over the weekend to celebrate the 46th anniversary of the July 26th March and the 42nd anniversary of its recording, as well as the 36th anniversary of the march "Rise Latin America" by Agustin Diaz Cartaya. On hand for the presentation were composer Diaz Cartaya and musicians Carlos Faxas and Gilberto Aldanaz -- two Cubans who were deeply involved in the recording of the first piece. During the Batista dictatorship, the July 26th March became a powerful weapon that shook the arrogant spirit of the regime and encouraged the Cuban people to take up arms to liberate the country and wipe out the tyrants. The march was promoted by the leader of the revolutionary movement, Fidel Castro. The Rise Latin America March was also composed by Diaz Cartaya and heard for the first time on July 26th, 1963, during the rally to mark the 10th anniversary of the attack on the Moncada Barracks. The situation of poverty, misery, exploitation, all kinds of discrimination and other evils in Latin America encouraged Cartaya to compose this revolutionary song, which tens of thousands have heard through different media outlets, including Radio Havana Cuba. The two marches were songs of struggle during the first years of the Revolution. Today, they are not heard as often as before, however the July 26th and Rise Latin America Marches were written to remain in our hearts forever. VIETNAM SENDS MESSAGE ON OCCASION OF THE 46th ANNIVERSARY OF THE ATTACK ON THE MONCADA BARRACKS Hanoi, July 26(RHC)-- Vietnamese leaders have sent a message, congratulating Cuba's President Fidel Castro on the occasion of the 46th anniversary of the attack on the Moncada barracks. The message, appearing on the front page of the most important newspapers of the Asian nation, is signed by Vietnam's President Tran Duc Luong, the country's Prime Minister, Phan Van Khai and the General Secretary of the Vietnamese Communist Party, Le Kha Phieu. With the headline "Years of acute hardships, but also of great heroism," the Vietnamese news daily Nhan Dan published an extensive article Monday, commemorating the July 26th action that ignited the spark of the Cuban Revolution. The Monday edition of another Vietnamese news daily, Quan Doi Nhan Dan, also included an editorial entitled "The Moncada Spirit during the Special Period" -- marking Cuba's National Day of Rebellion. Both dailies also published a message of congratulations sent by the President of the Vietnamese Parliament, Nong Duc Manh and the country's Foreign Minister, Nguyen Manh Cam to their Cuban counterparts Ricardo Alarcon and Felipe Perez Roque, respectively. SOLIDARITY WITH CUBA GROUPS IN ISRAEL DEMAND END OF WASHINGTON'S BLOCKADE Tel Aviv, July 26(RHC)-- Solidarity with Cuba groups in Israel marched on the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv to demand the end of Washington's nearly 40 year blockade of Cuba. The demonstration was called and organized by the Israel- Cuba Friendship Association to commemorate the 46th anniversary of the revolutionary attack on the Moncada Barracks, one of the most important military headquarters in Cuba and a stronghold of the bloody Batista dictatorship's army. The Israel-Cuba Friendship Association groups renowned personalities among Jewish and Arab activists. CUBAN ATHLETES CELEBRATE NATIONAL DAY OF REBELLION Winnipeg, July 26(RHC)-- With a harvest of 32 medals -- nine of them gold medals -- and the unanimous approval of the Winnipeg Declaration, Cuban athletes participating in the Panam Games commemorated Cuba's National Day of Rebellion, July 26th. In the early hours of Monday, the Cuban delegation to the Panam games approved the Winnipeg Declaration, stating that "the most important prize is that of dignity, regardless of the number of gold medals" that they may win during the games. On the fourth day of competitions, Cuba climbed to second position, sending Canada to the third place. CUBAN IRON AND STEEL INDUSTRY CONTINUES TO DEVELOP Santa Clara, July 26(RHC)-- Now that the revitalization of iron and steel is a fact, all efforts should be focused on achieving a much more specialized production, according to Ignacio Gonzalez Planas, Minister of the Cuban Iron and Steel Industry. Gonzalez Planas stated that it is essential to identify and enhance production sectors that are indispensable for the national economy. He also pointed to the need to enhance the quality of the industry's products, as well as to increase exports. While delivering the closing speech of an activity to mark the 35th anniversary of the National Industry for the Production of Household Items, the minister of the Cuban iron and steel industry praised the industry's achievements as well as its economic efficiency. In the first six months of 1999, the National Industry for the Production of Household Items achieved a production record with profits amounting to over 1,600,000 pesos. [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. 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