Radio Havana Cuba, Monday, June 7, 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, June 7, 1999. Today's stories: 1.- VENEZUELAN FOREIGN MINISTER JOSE VICENTE RANGEL BLASTS EXCLUSION OF CUBA FROM ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES 2.- FIRST INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON CULTURE AND DEVELOPMENT UNDERWAY IN HAVANA 3.- SECOND NATIONAL PROTESTANT WORSHIP SERVICE HELD IN HOLGUIN 4.- HONDURAN CATHOLIC CHURCH CONDEMNS REQUEST THAT CUBAN DOCTORS LEAVE THE COUNTRY 5.- CUBAN SINGER-SONGWRITER PABLO MILANES PERFORMS IN LONDON 6.- VICE PRESIDENT OF CHINESE PARLIAMENT WINDS UP VISIT TO CUBA VENEZUELAN FOREIGN MINISTER JOSE VICENTE RANGEL BLASTS EXCLUSION OF CUBA FROM ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES Guatemala City, June 7(RHC)-- At the Organization of American States' 29th Period of Ordinary Sessions in Guatemala, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jose Vicente Rangel has blasted Cuba's exclusion from this regional body. Rangel demanded Cuba's reincorporation in the inter-American system without any type of conditions. The Venezuelan foreign minister also issued a general criticism of the OAS, calling it anti-democratic and placing in doubt the regional organization's commitment to strengthening true, participatory democracy on the continent. He said Venezuela is attempting to install a superior form of democracy in an effort to do away with formal or so-called representative democracy that has only benefitted a small minority. Rangel said the immense majorities remain marginalized from political life and the economy, immersed in poverty and without education, culture and oftentimes even without food. The Venezuelan foreign minister said that the OAS's alleged achievements in the consolidation of Latin America's democratic systems is only the opinion of the regional body's leaders. In related news, representatives of some 300 non-governmental organizations holding a parallel gathering in Guatemala have demanded that they be officially-recognized as an advisory group to the OAS. The NGOs called on the regional organization to listen to and consider the ideas and opinions of civilian society. And meanwhile, Guatemalan human rights groups have called on the OAS to pressure the government of Guatemala to investigate the whereabouts of thousands of forcibly-disappeared, insisting that there can be no democracy with impunity. Led by the prestigious humanitarian organization Mutual Support Group, the activists are demanding a resolution calling on the Guatemalan government to comply with last February's recommendations by the Guatemalan Truth Commission. Those recommendations include the setting-up of a special commission to investigate the fate of the forcibly-disappeared, as well as financial compensation for their family members. The activists will present before the OAS assembly a recently published Guatemalan military document with the names, photos, data, date of detention and fate of 183 civilians kidnapped by security forces and never seen again. FIRST INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON CULTURE AND DEVELOPMENT UNDERWAY IN HAVANA Havana, June 7(RHC)-- The First International Congress on Culture and Development is underway in Havana with the participation of representatives from Africa, Europe and Latin America. The objective of the event is to exchange experiences and knowledge in the field of culture. Dozens of ministers, who will also take part in the Iberoamerican Culture Minister's Meeting in November in the Cuban capital, will participate in roundtables and conferences. Discussions on such issues as cultural and development policies, the role of artists and intellectuals in the development of culture and their role in modern technologies will be included in nine working commissions. The event will provide participants with the opportunity to discuss future strategies in the area of culture. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Union of Cuban Artists and Writers are sponsoring the meeting. SECOND NATIONAL PROTESTANT WORSHIP SERVICE HELD IN HOLGUIN Holguin, June 7(RHC)-- The Second National Protestant Worship Service was held on Sunday in eastern Holguin province as part of the religious celebrations that are taking place across the island. With thousands attending the open-air service, this Sunday's pastor was Reverend Raul Suarez, Director of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Center in Havana. Reverend Suarez opened the worship service by thanking Cuban authorities for allowing the evangelical message to be televised live across the island. The Baptist minister, who is also a Deputy to the National Assembly, strongly condemned U.S. policy towards Cuba, pointing out that such a policy prevents access to food and medicine by the Cuban people. Reverend Suarez urged religious believers to unite in the struggle for a better society. The third Protestant worship service will be held next Sunday in the eastern province of Camaguey, as part of a month-long religious celebration which includes over 49 Protestant denominations. HONDURAN CATHOLIC CHURCH CONDEMNS REQUEST THAT CUBAN DOCTORS LEAVE THE COUNTRY Tegucigalpa, June 7(RHC)-- The Honduran Catholic Church has joined other national organizations in criticizing the country's School of Medicine, following the institution's request that Cuban medical personnel return to Havana. Archbishop Oscar Rodriguez praised the good work of the Cuban health brigade, offering its services free-of-charge in the most remote areas of the Central American nation. Honduran grassroots organizations have also condemned the decision of the country's School of Medicine and have threatened to take to the streets in protest if the Cuban doctors are ordered to leave Honduras. CUBAN SINGER-SONGWRITER PABLO MILANES PERFORMS IN LONDON London, June 7(RHC)-- Cuban singer-song writer Pablo Milanes was enthusiastically received when he performed Sunday at London's Barbican Center Hall. During the concert, which was attended by more than 2000 spectators, Milanes explained that he had the moral obligation to end the concert with the song entitled "Santiago" -- dedicated to the victims of the Augusto Pinochet dictatorship. The renowned singer recalled the years of Pinochet's dictatorship in Chile following the brutal overthrow of constitutionally-elected President Salvador Allende. The former Chilean dictator is under house arrest in London, awaiting extradition to Spain where he faces charges of human rights violations. VICE PRESIDENT OF CHINESE PARLIAMENT WINDS UP VISIT TO CUBA Havana, June 7(RHC)-- The Vice President of the Chinese Parliament, Cao Chi, has wound up a visit to Cuba aimed at strengthening parliamentary relations between both nations. The Chinese leader characterized his meeting with Cuban President Fidel Castro as "excellent" and said they discussed issues of mutual interest as well as the international situation. Cao Chi, who headed a Chinese parliamentary delegation, stated that during their visit, they learned about the island's advances in tourism, education and health. [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 rhc-eng-23047 1999-Jun-07 21:11:31