Radio Havana Cuba, Wednesday, March 3, 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, March 3, 1999. Today's stories: 1.- CUBAN FOREIGN MINISTER ROBERTO ROBAINA IN VIETNAM 2.- CUBAN JUDICIAL AUTHORITIES ANNOUNCE TRIAL DATES FOR TWO SALVADORAN TERRORISTS ARRESTED IN HAVANA 3.- PRESIDENT OF THE SPANISH AUTONOMOUS REGION CASTILLA AND LEON TOURS THE CUBAN CAPITAL 4.- SECOND INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT TO TAKE PLACE IN HAVANA NEXT JUNE 5.- JAPAN DONATES 26,000 TONS OF RICE TO CUBA 6.- SOUNDS OF AMERICA FESTIVAL DEDICATES PROGRAM TO CUBA 7.- LAST GROUP OF NICARAGUAN MEDICAL STUDENTS ARRIVE IN HAVANA CUBAN FOREIGN MINISTER ROBERTO ROBAINA IN VIETNAM Ho Chi Minh City, March 3(RHC)-- Cuban Foreign Minister Roberto Robaina, currently visiting Vietnam on the third and last stop of his Asia tour, which included Japan and China, had warm words for his Vietnamese hosts. Referring to the long history of solidarity between Cuba and Vietnam, Robaina said the two countries have been together during the most difficult moments for both peoples, which -- in his words -- "is a true sign of friendship." The top Cuban diplomat met in Ho Chi Minh City with Truong Tan Sang, a member of the political Bureau and Secretary of the Vietnamese Communist Party. Robaina stated that if the Cuban and Vietnamese Revolutions could not be defeated by the military forces of their common enemy, much less would they be defeated by other measures taken against them with the same objective. For his part, Truong Tan Sang recalled that Cuban President Fidel Castro was the first leader of a foreign country to visit South Vietnam during the U.S. war of aggression in 1973. He noted that both Cuba and Vietnam have chosen the road to socialism and stated that the sacrifices of both peoples will bear fruit. Robaina travelled to Hanoi today to gather with Vietnamese Foreign Minister Nguyen Manh Cam. CUBAN JUDICIAL AUTHORITIES ANNOUNCE TRIAL DATES FOR TWO SALVADORAN TERRORISTS ARRESTED IN HAVANA Havana, March 3(RHC)-- Cuban judicial authorities have announced the trial dates for two Salvadoran terrorists arrested in Havana. Twenty seven-year-old Raul Ernesto Cruz Leon, who faces the death penalty if convicted, will be tried next Monday, March 8th. Forty-year-old Otto Rene Rodriguez Llerena, who faces a 30 year prison sentence, will go to trial on March 15th. Cruz Leon, arrested in September 1997, is charged with six counts of terrorism against tourist facilities in Havana, in which one Italian tourist was killed and seven other people wounded. Shortly after his arrest, the accused appeared on national TV in Cuba explaining how he carried out the bomb attacks. Rodriguez Llerena was arrested on June 10th, 1998, while attempting to smuggle into Havana nearly three pounds of high-powered plastic explosives, detonators and similar devices. He is also accused of placing a bomb at Havana's Melia-Cohiba Hotel. According to judicial authorities, both have admitted to belonging to a Central American-based terrorist network financed by Miami's Cuban-American National Foundation. PRESIDENT OF THE SPANISH AUTONOMOUS REGION CASTILLA AND LEON TOURS THE CUBAN CAPITAL Havana, March 3(RHC)-- The President of the Spanish autonomous region of Castilla and Leon, Juan Jose Lucas Gimenez, toured research centers, hospitals and other health institutions as he continues his official visit to the island. The Spanish leader took part in the inauguration of a Geriatric Department at Havana's Almeijeiras Hospital. There, he got a first-hand look at the work done with the elderly on the island. The president of Castilla and Leon, accompanied by a delegation from that Spanish autonomous region, also met with Tourism Minister Osmany Cienfuegos. SECOND INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT TO TAKE PLACE IN HAVANA NEXT JUNE Havana, March 3(RHC)-- The most serious environmental problems affecting humanity will be the center of discussion during the Second International Convention on the Environment and Development, scheduled to take place at Havana's Convention Center from June 14th through the 18th. A total of nine congresses will be held with the participation of politicians, educators, scientists, professors, technicians, agricultural workers and business people interested in sustainable development as an important factor for society in the 21st century. As the seventh anniversary of the Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit approaches, the world's environmental problems have worsened and Agenda 21 -- which was approved by the majority of the heads of state or government -- is still far from becoming a reality. JAPAN DONATES 26,000 TONS OF RICE TO CUBA Havana, March 3(RHC)-- The Japanese government has donated 26,000 tons of rice -- valued at eight million dollars -- which will be distributed free-of-charge to Cuban children, the elderly, day care centers, and hospitals. Japan's ambassador to Cuba, Saburo Tanaka, officially presented the donation to Cuba's Foreign Investment and Economic Cooperation Minister Ibrahim Ferradaz. The Cuban official said that this contribution is an example of the good relations between Tokyo and Havana, adding that the donation will contribute to the dietary supplement of those affected by Hurricane Georges, which hit the island last September. SOUNDS OF AMERICA FESTIVAL DEDICATES PROGRAM TO CUBA New York, March 3(RHC)-- Cuban musicians are in New York City to participate in "The Sounds of America," organized once a year by cultural groups in that U.S. city. This year's program has been dedicated to Cuban music, with more than a dozen concerts scheduled. The concerts, which began on Tuesday, include classical music, folklore dances, Latin jazz and chamber music. Music by composers Ernesto Lecuona, Gonzalo Roig and Harold Gramatges opened the festival on Tuesday night. Jazz will be interpreted by the Cuban group Adalberto Alvarez y S Son and the Harbor Conservatory Latin Big Band, followed by other renowned Cuban groups. The music festival is sponsored by the American Composer Orchestra, Carnegie Hall, Hostos Cultural Center and Juan Carlos Primero, the International University of Florida and the Public Theater. LAST GROUP OF NICARAGUAN MEDICAL STUDENTS ARRIVE IN HAVANA Havana, March 3(RHC)-- The last group of a total of 340 Nicaraguan young people who will study medicine on the island arrived on Tuesday at Havana's Jose Marti International Airport. The director of the Cuban Health Ministry's Department of International Relations, Dr. Victor Victorero, welcomed the 101 Nicaraguan students and told them to make themselves at home in Cuba. The Nicaraguan youths will be able to study medicine in Cuba thanks to an integral development health program which was proposed by Cuban President Fidel Castro to the Central American countries affected by Hurricane Mitch, in addition to sending Cuban medical personnel to those nations. [c] 1999, Radio Habana Cuba All rights reserved Articles cannot be reproduced, reprinted or published in any system without the consent of RHC. 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