Radio Havana Cuba, Friday, May 7, 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 7, 1999. Today's stories: 1.- CUBA CONDEMNS U.S. RADIO AND TV WAR AGAINST THE ISLAND 2.- CUBAN COMMUNIST PARTY CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEMBER JESUS MONTANE OROPESA DIES IN HAVANA 3.- TOWN MEETING DISCUSSES U.S. CAMPAIGNS AGAINST CUBA 4.- CUBAN SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT INAUGURATES ITS GENERAL ASSEMBLY 5.- SPELEOLOGIST SOCIETY BEGINS IN THE CENTRAL CITY OF CAMAGUEY 6.- CUBAN DELEGATION RETURNS FROM SUCCESSFUL TOUR OF CHINA CUBA CONDEMNS U.S. RADIO AND TV WAR AGAINST THE ISLAND New York, 7 May(RHC)-- Cuba is the victim of an "electronic war" waged by the United States. Speaking during a session of the United Nations Information Committee, Ambassador Rafael Dausa accused Washington of directing against the island more than 1600 hours a week on 26 different radio and television frequencies. Cuba's UN representative pointed out that the U.S. government spends more than 22 million dollars a year on Radio and TV Marti alone. He stated that these actions "are not only an attack against the island's sovereignty, but violate the most elemental norms of international law and the regulations established by institutions that regulate radio and television frequencies." UN Ambassador Rafael Dausa told the committee that the constant "electronic war" carried out by the United States against the Cuban Revolution distorts the island's reality and openly promotes subversive and terrorist activities. He added that it is Cuba's right to defend itself and that Havana will take "whatever measures are appropriate to combat this aggression against its independence and self-determination." In another part of his speech, Cuba's representative before the United Nations referred to the apparent advances made in the world of communications and information -- but emphasized the fact that recent impressive achievements have been greatly misrepresented. "While some people talk about the increasing use of the Internet and sophisticated means of communication, others face ever-increasing levels of illiteracy and poverty." Ambassador Rafael Dausa recalled that several years ago, the international community agreed to work for a `new world information order' -- but that very little has actually been accomplished and prospects for the future are dim. He stated that if there is a true commitment to scientific and technological advancement, the underdeveloped countries of the Third World "must not be passive spectators, but active players in the development of resources." CUBAN COMMUNIST PARTY CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEMBER JESUS MONTANE OROPESA DIES IN HAVANA Havana, May 7(RHC)-- Cuban Communist Party Central Committee member, Jesus Montane Oropesa, died on Friday of a respiratory ailment. Among many of his responsibilities, Jesus Montane was the personal assistant to Cuban President Fidel Castro since the days of the attack on the Moncada Garrison in l953. He was an active organizer of the activities that led to the triumph of the Cuban Revolution in 1959, taking part in the 1953 attack against the Moncada Garrison in eastern Santiago de Cuba and was later arrested and imprisoned. A member of the July 26th Movement, Montane also participated in the Granma yacht expedition from Mexico that led to the war against the Batista dictatorship in the Sierra Maestra mountains. He was later elected as a member of the Central Committee of Cuba's Communist Party and was a deputy in Cuba's Parliament since its creation. Jesus Montane Oropesa will be buried Saturday morning in the Revolutionary Armed Forces Pavilion in Havana's Colon Cemetery. TOWN MEETING DISCUSSES U.S. CAMPAIGNS AGAINST CUBA Havana, May 7(RHC)-- Washington's latest anti-Cuba measures against the island were discussed on Friday at a public town meeting sponsored by the International Relations Commission of the Cuban Parliament. The meeting was held at the scientific complex of the Frank Pais Hospital with the participation of the presidents of the National Assembly's commissions, among other high-ranking government officials. The United States maintains a brutal economic blockade against the island, which has caused losses of some 60 billion dollars to the national economy over the past 40 years. CUBAN SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT INAUGURATES ITS GENERAL ASSEMBLY Havana, May 7(RHC)-- The members of the Cuban Society for the Protection of the Environment began its general assembly on Friday. The event, which is taking place at the School of Biology of the University of Havana, is aimed at evaluating the work of its board of directors. The organizing committee also revealed that the members of the Cuban Society for the Protection of the Environment will elect its new executive board. Among the most recent international events in which the Cuban environmental institution participated was the 2nd Conference of Latin America and Caribbean non-governmental organizations in 1997 on desertification and drought. During the 1997 conference, which was held at Havana's International Convention Center, Cuba outlined its National Environmental Program -- the island's own Agenda 21 in compliance with the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, which also includes a clause on the fight against desertification and drought. SPELEOLOGIST SOCIETY BEGINS IN THE CENTRAL CITY OF CAMAGUEY Camaguey, May 7(RHC)-- A meeting on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the creation of Cuba's Speleologist Society got underway in the central city of Camaguey on Friday. The program was opened in memory of Alfredo Alvarez Mola, one of the founders of the institution in May 1949. Mola was assassinated by Batista's troops in 1958. The activity will include a recognition of outstanding researchers and a scientific workshop on speleology. The speleology organization has over 100 members in Camaguey province -- one of the regions of the island with the most number of caves. CUBAN DELEGATION RETURNS FROM SUCCESSFUL TOUR OF CHINA Havana, May 7(RHC)-- Cuban Communist Party Political Bureau member Jose Ramon Machado Ventura and the delegation he led has returned to the Cuban capital after a successful tour of China. Upon his arrival in Havana, the Communist Party leader said that the delegation's trip to China helped them appreciate the development of the Asian nation, with its policy of openings in various economic sectors. Jose Ramon Machado Ventura characterized their experience as excellent and praised the economic reforms in that Asian nation and the resulting high standard of living of the Chinese people. [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-23318 1999-May-07 23:15:50