Radio Havana Cuba, Friday, May 28, 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 28, 1999. Today's stories: 1.- CUBAN GOVERNMENT DESIGNATES NEW FOREIGN MINISTER 2.- MODERATE CUBAN-AMERICAN ORGANIZATIONS IN MIAMI ANNOUNCE SUPPORT OF UPCOMING 9th PASTORS FOR PEACE CARAVAN 3.- HAVANA WILLING TO COOPERATE WITH WASHINGTON IN THE FIGHT AGAINST DRUG TRAFFICKING 4.- CUBA'S NATIONAL COMMUNITY CULTURAL CENTER AND ITALIAN COMMUNITY OF BONALO SIGN BILATERAL ACCORD 5.- ORGANIZATION IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLES OF AFRICA, ASIA AND LATIN AMERICA COMMEMORATES ANNIVERSARY OF OAU 6.- EARTHQUAKE SHAKES EASTERN SANTIAGO DE CUBA CUBAN GOVERNMENT DESIGNATES NEW FOREIGN MINISTER Havana, May 28(RHC)-- At the request of Cuban President Fidel Castro, the Cuban Communist Party and Council of State have approved the designation of the island's new Foreign Minister: Felipe Perez Roque. In a front-page article published in today's edition of the news daily Granma, the Council of State -- Cuba's highest executive body -- stated that it approved the designation, "taking into account the complex and tense international scenario, its growing importance for the future of Cuba and the world and the necessity for a more profound, rigorous, systematic and demanding work in this area." Felipe Perez Roque is a House Deputy to Cuba's National Assembly and himself a member of the Council of State. He was elected House Deputy in 1986 at the age of 21, while he was still pursuing his university studies and was president of the Federation of University Students and a leading member of the Young Communist League. In 1991, he was elected to the Central Committee and re-elected to the National Assembly in 1993 and 1998. Felipe Perez Roque has been one of President Fidel Castro's closest collaborators over the past seven years, accompanying the Cuban leader to all of the international events in which he has participated during those years, as well as in all the political and economic delegations received by the Cuban president in Havana. The Council of State said that it's President Fidel Castro's opinion that due to Perez Roque's experience, accumulated knowledge, maturity, personal integrity, habits of study and analysis, the constant search and processing of the information needed to respond to diverse problems and his capacity to elaborate and express his own ideas and criteria -- despite his young 34 years of age -- he is ideal for the job of heading the Cuban Foreign Ministry. It was noted that outgoing Foreign Minister Roberto Robaina will soon be assigned other tasks in the Cuban government. MODERATE CUBAN-AMERICAN ORGANIZATIONS IN MIAMI ANNOUNCE SUPPORT OF UPCOMING 9th PASTORS FOR PEACE CARAVAN Miami, May 28(RHC)-- Moderate Cuban-American organizations in Miami have announced their support for the upcoming 9th Pastors for Peace Friendshipment Caravan to Cuba. The caravan is slated to begin its journey through more than 120 U.S. cities on Sunday, collecting medicine and medical equipment not only for Cuba, but also to contribute to Cuba's efforts to save lives in other countries like those of Central America following Hurricane Mitch. The Antonio Maceo Brigade, the Cuban Community's Workers' Alliance and the Miami Coalition Against the Blockade were among the organizations that announced their participation at the offices of the Afrocuban Cultural Recovery group. The building is the same one that right-wing extremists attempted to blow up in 1994, together with 20 tons of medical aid to Cuba that had been stored there. The 9th Pastors for Peace Caravan should cross the Mexican border on June 11th and is slated to reach Cuba on June 18th. Some 100 U.S. solidarity activists will be accompanying the caravan. HAVANA WILLING TO COOPERATE WITH WASHINGTON IN THE FIGHT AGAINST DRUG TRAFFICKING Havana, May 28(RHC)-- Cuba's Foreign Ministry reaffirmed its willingness to cooperate with the United States in the fight against drug-trafficking, despite Washington's economic blockade against the island and the fact that the two countries do not have bilateral agreements in the area. Cuban Foreign Ministry spokesperson Rogelio Sierra told reporters in Havana on Thursday that Cuba and the U.S. have occasionally carried out joint actions against drug-trafficking. Sierra pointed to a recent article in The Washington Post, affirming that Cuba is seriously attempting to stop drug-trafficking in and around its territorial waters despite the lack of resources. The article refers to old, Soviet-built Coast Guard patrol vessels, which are much slower than the speedboats used by drug-traffickers. In statements to The Washington Post, the President of the Cuban Parliament, Ricardo Alarcon, said that Havana wants to increase its cooperation with the U.S., stating that Washington's lack of willingness prevents both countries from benefiting from joint operations. CUBA'S NATIONAL COMMUNITY CULTURAL CENTER AND ITALIAN COMMUNITY OF BONALO SIGN BILATERAL ACCORD Havana, May 28(RHC)-- Cuba's National Community Cultural Center and the Italian community of Banolo in Piano signed a bilateral accord on Thursday for a solidarity project that serves as a bridge between the two countries and will permit a cultural, scientific and historic exchange. The Mayor of that Italian community, Guido Ligabau, said that the agreement will broaden mutual relations and help create new projects. He added that the main areas of the recently signed agreement include the exchange of artistic groups, technical advice and workshops, seminars and events. ORGANIZATION IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLES OF AFRICA, ASIA AND LATIN AMERICA COMMEMORATES ANNIVERSARY OF OAU Havana, May 28(RHC)-- With an exhibition entitled "Africa in the OSPAAAL," the Organization in Solidarity with the Peoples of Africa, Asia and Latin America held an activity on Thursday on the occasion of the 36th anniversary of the creation of the Organization of African Unity, the OAU. The Director of the Center for African and Middle East Studies, Armando Estralgo, said that the exhibition includes nearly 50 posters and photographs -- demonstrating the African presence in OSPAAAL over the past 30 years. Burkina Faso's Ambassador to Havana, Salif Nebie, thanked the Cuban government and people for their solidarity with Africa and praised the sacrifices of African leaders who created the OAU 36 years ago. EARTHQUAKE SHAKES EASTERN SANTIAGO DE CUBA Santiago de Cuba, May 28(RHC)-- An earthquake registering 4.3 on the Richter scale shook the eastern city of Santiago de Cuba early Friday morning. The tremor, the strongest in the past five years, occurred around 7:30 in the morning and caused concern among the inhabitants of the second largest city on the island. [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-24129 1999-May-28 22:52:12