Radio Havana Cuba, Friday, May 14, 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, May 14, 1999. Today's stories: 1.- INTER-PARLIAMENTARY HEALTH CONFERENCE UNDERWAY IN HAVANA 2.- CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO MEETS WITH PRESIDENT OF THE GERMAN FEDERATION OF INDUSTRIES 3.- FOREST FIRE IN PINAR DEL RIO PROVINCE STARTED BY LIGHTNING 4.- CUBAN VICE PRESIDENT CONTINUES VISIT TO SPANISH AUTONOMOUS REGIONS 5.- MAJOR CELEBRATIONS PLANNED FOR 40th ANNIVERSARY OF THE AGRARIAN REFORM LAW INTER-PARLIAMENTARY HEALTH CONFERENCE UNDERWAY IN HAVANA Havana, May 14(RHC)-- Sixty percent of those who die in underdeveloped countries die due to preventable diseases, according to Cuban Deputy Health Minister Dr. Baudilio Jardines. During his speech at the Inter-Parliamentary Health Conference, currently underway at Havana's International Convention Center, the Cuban official said that only eight percent of those in developed nations die of preventable diseases. According to experts, while industrialized nations have a maternal mortality rate of 13 for every 100,000 live births, underdeveloped nations register 60 deaths for every 100,000 births. This situation has prevented many nations from reaching the "Health for All" goal of the World Health Organization (WHO). Referring to Cuba, the deputy health minister pointed out that the island met the goals set for the year 2000 by WHO in 1983. The Inter-Parliamentary Health Conference is taking place with the participation of legislators from Latin America and the Caribbean. Officials from the World Health Organization and representatives of the United Nations AIDS Program are also attending the meeting in the Cuban capital. CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO MEETS WITH PRESIDENT OF THE GERMAN FEDERATION OF INDUSTRIES Havana, May 14(RHC)-- Cuban President Fidel Castro met with the President of the German Federation of Industries, Hans-Olaf Henkel, just before the German official wrapped up a five-day visit to the island. At Havana's Jose Marti International Airport, Henkel told journalists that he and the Cuban leader spoke about a number of issues -- among them globalization, the international economy, ecology and culture. He stated that his visit to Cuba was extremely interesting and added that the German delegation's objective -- to learn about investment possibilities on the island -- was accomplished. During a plenary session between Cuban and German business executives yesterday, Hans-Olaf Henkel expressed his country's condemnation of Washington's almost 40-year blockade against Cuba, adding that the overwhelming majority of industrialized countries are against such a coercive measure. The president of the German Federation of Industries also met with Cuban Vice President Carlos Lage, Foreign Investment and Economic Cooperation Minister Ibrahim Ferradaz, as well as other high-ranking Cuban government officials. FOREST FIRE IN PINAR DEL RIO PROVINCE STARTED BY LIGHTNING Havana, May 14(RHC)-- A forest fire in western Pinar del Rio province was quickly brought under control thanks to some 700 volunteers who did not leave the area until the blaze was completely extinguished. Lightning apparently started the fire that burned some 200 hectares. The president of the area's parliament, Roberto Diaz Rodriguez, explained that a severe drought affecting the region was also a contributing factor to the forest fire. According to national statistics over the last 20 years, April is the month with the greatest number of forest fires. More than 85 percent of the fires in Cuba are caused by human carelessness. Pinar del Rio has the largest forest reserves in the country, covering over 418,000 hectares. CUBAN VICE PRESIDENT CONTINUES VISIT TO SPANISH AUTONOMOUS REGIONS Madrid, May 14(RHC)-- Cuban Vice President Jose Ramon Fernandez is currently visiting the Spanish autonomous region of Castilla and Leon. The President of that region, Juan Jose Lucas Gimenez, welcomed the Cuban leader. Gimenez spoke about his visit to Cuba last March, heading an important delegation which met with Cuban President Fidel Castro. Shortly after his arrival, Jose Ramon Fernandez spoke with a group of business executives in the provincial parliament of Palencia. While visiting several Spanish autonomous regions, the Cuban leader has also met with the president of the Regional Council of Castilla and Leon's Chamber of Commerce. MAJOR CELEBRATIONS PLANNED FOR 40th ANNIVERSARY OF THE AGRARIAN REFORM LAW Havana, May 14(RHC)-- Delegates from 37 countries will participate in the International Encounter for the 40th anniversary of the island's Agrarian Reform Law, scheduled to take place in Havana as part of a series of programs to celebrate the Day of the Campesino. The event is aimed at analyzing the consequences of globalization and neo-liberal economic policies in the agricultural sector. The program of activities for the 40th anniversary of the Agrarian Reform Law includes the inauguration tomorrow, Saturday, of the 4th Agricultural Forum -- held as part of events prior to the Iberoamerican Summit, scheduled for next November in the Cuban capital. [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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