Radio Havana Cuba, Wed June 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 Wednesday, June 23, 1999. Today's stories: 1.- 9TH US CUBA FRIENDSHIPMENT CARAVAN UPDATE 2.- CUBAN AND U.S. EXPERTS MEET TO DISCUSS FIGHT AGAINST DRUG-TRAFFICKING 3.- EXPOCARIBE 99 INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR CONTINUES IN SANTIAGO DE CUBA 4.- PRESIDENT OF CUBA'S INSTITUTE OF FRIENDSHIP WITH THE PEOPLES MEETS WITH MEMBERS OF EUROPEAN SOLIDARITY CONTINGENT 5.- CUBAN AUTHORITIES TO DONATE 3.5 TONS OF BIORAT TO NICARAGUA TO FIGHT LEPTOSPIROSIS OUTBREAK. 9TH US CUBA FRIENDSHIPMENT CARAVAN UPDATE Havana, June23rd(RHC)-- Members of the 9th Pastors for Peace Caravan met with leaders of the Confederation of Cuban Workers, the CTC, on Tuesday. The caravanistas talked with the General Secretary of the CTC, Pedro Ross Leal, who spoke with the 89 members of the humanitarian group about way Cuban workers are organized. Following the meeting, Radio Havana Cuba spoke with one of the caravanistas, Paul Davidson, who was very impressed with what they learned about the working-class movement on the island. "The thing that really struck home was the way in which the unions organize their links with their individual members. Pedro Ross explained that -- unlike the U.S. or Europe -- the union dues are not simply taken from paychecks by the boss and then given to the union official. In fact, belonging to a union in Cuba is entirely voluntary and it is a testimony to the confidence of the working- class in Cuba that over 90 percent of workers are members of unions that are affiliated with the CTC. "So the individual member then gets his or her paycheck and personally hands over the amount due -- on the basis of whether or not they believe that the union has been acting in their intere sts and whether or not they feel impowered and confident in the union. "The other important point is that those who decide that they don't want to be a member of the union or wish to withdraw from the union are still entitled to full union support in case of any dispute with their employer. So it's a principal of the union movement in Cuba that they will represent workers even if that worker is not a member. "I think that bears testimony to the culture of unity here in Cuba. What is evident from what Pedro Ross told us is that there is a genuine trade union movement here. What we have in the United States and European countries is an association which acts more in the interests of its leadership than it does in the interests of its members. And I'm sure that many people in our union movement have a great deal to learn from the worker's organization here in Cuba -- a free, independent and voluntary organization." MEMBERS OF THE 9TH US-CUBA FRIENDSHIPMENT CARAVAN TOUR SITES OF SOCIAL INTEREST AND TOURISM FACILITIES ON THE ISLAND Havana, June (RHC)-Members of the 9th US-Cuba Friendshipment Caravan toured sites of social interest and tourism facilities in the provinces of Matanzas and Pinar del Rio provinces to take a first hand look at the Cuban reality. The Pastors for Peace caravanistas visited Playa Giron where in April of l961 mercenaries, trained and financed by Washington invaded the island and were defeated in 72 hours. In addition, the solidarity group visited the Guama tourism facility, which is a replica of an indigenous village. They also toured schools and museums in the area. In defiance of Washington's nearly 40 year blockade against Cuba, the 80 plus members of the 9th US-Cuba Friendshipment Caravan donated to the Cuban people 100 tons of medicines, medical equipment and other materials valued at over 200 million dollars. Before arriving in Cuba last Friday, the caravanistas visited over 140 US cities collecting donations and holding discussions on Cuba. The US religious-humanitarian organization Pastors for Peace, headed by its director the Reverend Lucius Walker, has been organizing Friendshipment Caravans for the last 8 years, always refusing to apply for a US Treasury Department license, to avoid legitimizing the US blockade against Cuba. CUBAN AND U.S. EXPERTS MEET TO DISCUSS FIGHT AGAINST DRUG-TRAFFICKING Havana, June 23(RHC)-- Cuban and U.S. experts have met in Havana to discuss ways in which the two countries can cooperate in the fight against drug-trafficking. A delegation headed by Michael Kozak, head of the U.S. Interests Section in Havana and made up of representatives from the State Department and the U.S. Coast Guard met with their Cuban counterparts for one day in Havana. This marks the first time that representatives of Cuba and the United States have met to discuss coordination of anti-drug-trafficking operations. THE EXPOCARIBE 99 INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR CONTINUES IN SANTIAGO DE CUBA Santiago de Cuba, June 23 (RHC)-Business negotiations at the International Trade Fair, EXPOCARIBE99 began on Wednesday in eastern Santiago de Cuba aimed at examining cooperation ties between Cuban and foreign companies participating in the event. In the Wednesday morning session, business executives toured the Celia Sanchez textile factory, Fishing Ministry operations and other centers of interest in Cuba's second largest city. In addition, an antique car rally will be held and a talk will be given on how Cuba's insurance industry can serve clients. THE PRESIDENT OF CUBA'S INSTITUTE OF FRIENDSHIP WITH THE PEOPLES MEETS WITH MEMBERS OF EUROPEAN SOLIDARITY CONTINGENT Havana, June 23 (RHC)-The President of Cuba's Institute of Friendship with the Peoples, ICAP, Sergio Corrieri, met on Tuesday on the outskirts of Havana with members of the European Solidarity Contingent who are currently doing voluntary work in solidarity with the Cuban people. During an almost two hour exchange in the Julio Antonio Mella International Camp, Corrieri pointed out that the island has friendly and solidarity relations with some 1 700 organizations from 128 countries including people of all races, religious beliefs and political ideologies. The European contingent is made up of the Jose Marti and Nordic Brigades. During the meeting with ICAP's president, the Sweden-Cuba Friendship Association donated 10 thousand dollars to purchase medicines. CUBAN AUTHORITIES TO DONATE 3.5 TONS OF BIORAT TO NICARAGUA TO FIGHT LEPTOSPIROSIS OUTBREAK. Havana, June 23 (RHC)-Cuban authorities have donated 3.5 tons of Biorat to Nicaragua to eliminate rats that are spreading leptospirosis in the department of Rio San Juan on the border with Costa Rica. Nicaraguan health sources report that the rats have invaded agriculture areas as well as homes and the local authorities have declared the region under an epidemeology alert after the deaths of two people from leptospirosis. Another 49 cases of the disease, which is spread by rat's urine, have been reported. The donation of the Cuban-made biological rat killer was scheduled to arrive in Nicaragua on Wednesday. [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-785 1999-Jun-24 13:14:00