Radio Havana Cuba, Friday, March 12, 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, March 12, 1999. Today's stories: 1.- PROSECUTION RESTS ITS CASE AGAINST ADMITTED SALVADORAN TERRORIST 2.- BOOK OF CONDOLENCES OPENED IN HAVANA TO PAY HOMAGE TO OSWALDO GUAYASAMIN 3.- CUBA SOLIDARITY BRIGADE FROM GERMANY CARRIES OUT COMMUNITY WORK IN CUBA 4.- FRENCH DELEGATION ARRIVES IN THE CUBAN CAPITAL 5.- THIRD INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FOR DEVELOPMENT TO BE HELD IN CUBA 6.- PREPARATORY MEETING FOR THIS YEAR'S IBEROAMERICAN SUMMIT PROSECUTION RESTS ITS CASE AGAINST ADMITTED SALVADORAN TERRORIST Havana, March 12(RHC)-- The prosecution rested its case late Thursday evening against Salvadoran citizen Raul Ernesto Cruz Leon, charged with six counts of terrorism. Chief prosecutor Rafael Pino Becker reiterated his request for the death penalty for the murder of an Italian tourist and the wounding of 11 other people, in six bomb attacks against tourist facilities in the Cuban capital. Cruz Leon's defense attorney, Daniel Rippes, issued a plea for benevolence, insisting that this would not be a sign of weakness. He said "the death penalty is not necessary to demonstrate the strength of the Cuban people" -- a strength, he added, that history has already demonstrated. The accused also delivered a closing statement, reiterating what he called his "heart-felt apology" to the Cuban people. Cruz Leon said it was during the trial that he understood the damage he had inflicted. He again apologized to the family of the Italian tourist killed by one of the bombs he detonated and also appealed for the court's mercy. Among the evidence produced Thursday during the last day of the trial was a video clip of a U.S. TV interview with infamous Cuban-American terrorist Luis Posada Carriles -- admitting that one of his subordinates had contracted Cruz Leon. Previously, the prosecution had presented convincing evidence of the involvement of the Miami-based ultra-right wing Cuban-American National Foundation in the wave of terrorist attacks in Havana in 1997. The Havana court now has 12 days to issue a verdict, which can be appealed to Cuba's Supreme Court. If the verdict is upheld by the Supreme Court, it is automatically appealed to the Council of State, Cuba's highest judicial body. BOOK OF CONDOLENCES OPENED IN HAVANA TO PAY HOMAGE TO OSWALDO GUAYASAMIN Havana, March 12(RHC)-- A book of condolences has been opened in Havana so that people in the Cuban capital, representing the entire island, may express their sadness on the death of renowned Ecuadoran painter and sculptor Oswaldo Guayasamin. The book of condolences has been placed at the Guayasamin House, a workshop inaugurated by the Ecuadoran artist in Old Havana to promote the work of Cuban artists. Under the headline "Goodbye to Our Friend Guayasamin," Thursday's edition of the Cuban news daily Granma dedicated an extensive editorial to the internationally- known artist, "who will always be remembered for his unconditional loyalty to the Cuban people and its revolution." The outstanding artist died of a heart attack on Wednesday at the age of 79 in the U.S. city of Baltimore, where he was to undergo eye surgery. At the time of his death, Guayasamin was working on a new project: The Chapel of Man, for which he was inspired by the massacres of the conquest, slavery and the colonization of Latin America. The late Ecuadoran artist was a recipient of the Felix Varela Order --the highest cultural distinction granted by the island. On behalf of the Cuban people, President Fidel Castro has sent a floral wreath to Quito, Ecuador, where Oswaldo Guayasamin will be laid to rest. CUBA SOLIDARITY BRIGADE FROM GERMANY CARRIES OUT COMMUNITY WORK IN CUBA Matanzas, March 12(RHC)-- The third Ernesto Che Guevara Brigade, organized by the German Communist Party, is currently in Cuba carrying out community work. The group of German communists has already begun the construction of four houses and two family doctor's offices in central Matanzas province. Klaus Czydorra, head of the group and member of the German Communist Party's Cuba Solidarity Association, told reporters that the work brigade's expenses -- over 120,000 dollars -- including construction materials and medical equipment, is totally covered by the German political party. Thanks to this initiative of the German Communist Party's Cuba Solidarity Association, one family doctor's office and a rehabilitation clinic have been operating in Matanzas since 1995. FRENCH DELEGATION ARRIVES IN THE CUBAN CAPITAL Havana, March 12(RHC)-- A French delegation, headed by Jacques Floch, House Deputy and President of Nantes's Urban Studies Agency, has arrived in Havana to offer their collaboration on reconstruction projects currently underway in the capital's municipality of Old Havana. Old Havana has been declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization -- UNESCO. The French delegation's packed agenda on the island includes meetings with Havana's local authorities and visits to centers of historic and cultural interest. The French visitors will be in Havana until next Thursday, March 18th. THIRD INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FOR DEVELOPMENT TO BE HELD IN CUBA Havana, March 12(RHC)-- Some 160 foreign experts from 34 countries will attend the Third International Conference on Science and Technology for Development, to be held at Havana's Convention Center from March 22nd through the 26th. According to the organizing committee, most of those who have already confirmed their participation are from Mexico, Spain, France, Germany and Portugal. PREPARATORY MEETING FOR THIS YEAR'S IBEROAMERICAN SUMMIT Havana, March 12(RHC)-- Cuba's Deputy Foreign Minister Jorge Bolanos returned home Friday from Panama where he attended a preparatory meeting for the next Iberoamerican Summit, slated for Havana in November. Attending the meeting were representatives from Portugal, the last country to hold the summit; Cuba, the site of this year's encounter; and Panama, the nation that will hold the summit in the year 2000. Upon his return to Havana, the high-ranking Cuban official characterized the preparatory meeting in Panama as very constructive and positive.  [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-20726 1999-Mar-13 02:47:40