Radio Havana Cuba, Wednesday, June 9, 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 9, 1999. Today's stories: 1.- CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO CALLS ON THE NEED TO CONFRONT THE CHALLENGES OF GLOBALIZATION 2.- NATIONAL BALLET COMPANY RETURNS TO HAVANA AFTER A SUCCESSFUL EUROPEAN TOUR 3.- INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE ON THE ENVIRONMENT UNDERWAY IN SANTA CLARA 4.- CUBAN MUSICIANS HOLD CONCERT IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLE OF YUGOSLAVIA 5.- BOLIVIAN AND CUBAN OFFICIALS MEET TO IMPROVE TRADE RELATIONS 6.- CUBAN VICE PRESIDENT RAUL CASTRO WELCOMES DELEGATION FROM THE LAOTIAN REVOLUTIONARY POPULAR PARTY CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO CALLS ON THE NEED TO CONFRONT THE CHALLENGES OF GLOBALIZATION Havana, June 9(RHC)-- Cuban President Fidel Castro attended the opening session of the First International Congress on Culture and Development on Tuesday, calling on the need to confront the challenges of globalization. The leader of the Cuban Revolution said it was necessary to create ways to fight against what he called "the brutal avalanche of information" -- monopolized by the United States and other industrialized countries and aimed at underdeveloped nations. He proposed that this can be done, in part, by placing more attention on producing original television programs and implementing professional training courses. Fidel Castro stressed that 60 percent of the programs on U.S. television contain scenes of violence, calling U.S. society "the culture of death" and warning that they will become the victims of the culture that they constantly promote. Speaking to nearly 700 delegates representing 19 countries, President Fidel Castro pointed to the importance of the Internet -- a means of communication that can reach 80 percent of the U.S. population. However, the Cuban leader was quick to say that only two percent of the homes in Latin America have access to the Internet, referring to the need to find other ways to communicate with those who do not possess that technology. Cuban President Fidel Castro told delegates to the First International Congress on Culture and Development that the battle is not only fought on the field of culture, but must also be carried out economically, politically and socially. He said that Cuba has faith in the intelligence of humanity and that, in the end, the battle will be won. The meeting of intellectuals and cultural workers, which will run through Friday, is being held at Havana's International Convention Center. NATIONAL BALLET COMPANY RETURNS TO HAVANA AFTER A SUCCESSFUL EUROPEAN TOUR Havana, June 9(RHC)-- Cuba's National Ballet Company and the dance troupe's Director Prima Ballerina Alicia Alonso returned to Havana after a successful tour which took them to Spain and Portugal. In statements to reporters at Jose Marti International Airport, Alicia Alonso said that the ballet troupe always performed to a packed theater. She added that Cuba's National Ballet performed versions of Swan Lake, Gisselle and the Magic of Ballet. The Cuban National Ballet Company, which celebrated its 100th anniversary last October, will perform a new production of Coppelia this weekend at Havana's Grand Theater. INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE ON THE ENVIRONMENT UNDERWAY IN SANTA CLARA Santa Clara, June 9(RHC)-- The International Scientific Conference on the Environment in the 21st Century got underway in the central city of Santa Clara with the participation of at least 100 specialists from 18 countries. Andres Valverde, a member of the organizing committee, said that among some of the issues discussed at the conference, the most important will be eco-social perspectives, which includes educational activities concerning protection of the environment. The lecture will be given by Professor Marti Boada from the University of Barcelona. Participants had words of praise for the lecture on the Cuban strategy of sustainable development, presented by Dr. Candido Quintana from the Central University of Las Villas. In addition, a round table on energy conservation and renewable sources of energy in Cuba will be offered over the next few days. Authorities from the Autonomous University of Barcelona expressed interest in creating an exchange program with the Botanical Gardens of the Central University of Las Villas. The conference is being sponsored by Cuba's Higher Education Ministry and the Generalitat of Cataluna, Spain. CUBAN MUSICIANS HOLD CONCERT IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLE OF YUGOSLAVIA Santiago de Cuba, June 9(RHC)-- A concert entitled "Peace and Solidarity with the People of Yugoslavia" was held last night at the Emilio Bacardi Museum in Santiago de Cuba. The event was organized by the Hermanos Saiz Cultural Association in the eastern Cuban city. Musical groups and trovadors expressed their condemnation of the U.S.-led NATO bombings against the Yugoslavian people. During the concert, artists painted a mural, rejecting the genocidal attacks being committed against that European country. BOLIVIAN AND CUBAN OFFICIALS MEET TO IMPROVE TRADE RELATIONS La Paz, June 9(RHC)-- Bolivian and Cuban officials are meeting in La Paz with the objective of intensifying bilateral commercial relations, according to the spokesperson for the Cuban delegation in the Bolivian capital. The head of the Cuban delegation, Jose Alvarez Portela, said that both sides are expected to sign a cooperation accord for the promotion of exports. Before returning to Havana, the Cuban delegation also plans to meet with Bolivian business executives to discuss other future economic prospects. CUBAN VICE PRESIDENT RAUL CASTRO WELCOMES DELEGATION FROM THE LAOTIAN REVOLUTIONARY POPULAR PARTY Havana, June 9(RHC)-- Cuba's First Vice President Raul Castro met with a delegation from the Laotian Revolutionary Popular Party, headed by Thongsing Thammavong. The Laotian delegation expressed their interest in strengthening relations between the Parties, governments and peoples of both countries. [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-13196 1999-Jun-09 20:56:19