Radio Havana Cuba, Monday, May 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 Monday, May 3, 1999. Today's stories: 1.- SATURDAY'S MAY DAY MARCHES IN CUBA: "THE MOST POWERFUL IN THE WORLD" 2.- COORDINATOR OF U.S. LABOR GROUP ACCUSES WASHINGTON OF BEING WORLD'S MAIN VIOLATOR OF HUMAN RIGHTS 3.- CIGAR AFICIONADO MAGAZINE BACK ON NEWSSTANDS IN MIAMI 4.- TOUR CONVENTION CUBA '99 UNDERWAY IN HAVANA 5.- CUBAN TRADE DELEGATION CURRENTLY VISITING CHINA 6.- PRESIDENT OF CUBA'S CENTRAL BANK WINDS UP VISIT TO THE UNITED NATIONS SATURDAY'S MAY DAY MARCHES IN CUBA: "THE MOST POWERFUL IN THE WORLD" Havana, May 3(RHC)-- Cuba's weekly Trabajadores newspaper published an article on Monday reporting that a foreign press agency characterized Saturday's May Day festivities in Cuba as "the most powerful in the world." In Havana alone, over one million people took part in the May Day parade at the Jose Marti Plaza de la Revolucion. In other cities and towns across the island, seven million took to the streets to celebrate International Worker's Day. According to the Cuban weekly, Italy's ANSA News Agency reported that the May Day activities were "an important commemoration and an act of reaffirmation and solidarity." ANSA also underscored the words of the General Secretary of the Confederation of Cuban Workers (CTC) Pedro Ross Leal, in which he characterized the U.S.-led NATO aggressions against Yugoslavia as "barbaric genocide." During one activity to commemorate International Worker's Day, CTC member Leonel Gonzalez spoke to more than 1000 foreign delegates from some 40 countries. Representing over 90 international labor organizations, the delegates took part in Saturday's march in Havana. Gonzalez noted that Cuba not only receives solidarity but also offers it to the world. He called on all workers of the world to unite against imperialism and struggle for a just society. COORDINATOR OF U.S. LABOR GROUP ACCUSES WASHINGTON OF BEING WORLD'S MAIN VIOLATOR OF HUMAN RIGHTS Havana, May 3(RHC)-- The United States is the world's main violator of human rights, according to the Coordinator of the U.S. Labor Exchange and member of the U.S. delegation to the May Day activities in Havana, Ignacio Meneses. Meneses said that an example of this is Washington's expansionist attempts in the Balkans, leading attacks against Yugoslavia. The labor activist asked how the U.S. can talk about human rights and claim to be the world's human rights champion when millions of children and young people in that country are denied the right to health and education. He pointed out that one of the objectives of the U.S. Labor Exchange is to organize groups of workers to see the Cuban Revolution first-hand. CIGAR AFICIONADO MAGAZINE BACK ON NEWSSTANDS IN MIAMI Miami, May 3(RHC)-- The latest edition of Cigar Aficionado magazine is back on the newsstands at Miami's International Airport. Authorities at the airport had banned sales of the magazine, alleging it carried a "glamorous" picture of Cuba -- a destination off-limits to the average U.S. citizen due to the decades-old economic blockade. The magazine, it was said, could offend Miami's exile community. The edition's cover features photos of President Fidel Castro and President Bill Clinton with the headline "Cuba: Is It Time to End the Embargo?" The 282-page magazine carries photos and descriptions of the island's lifestyle and booming tourism industry, as well as articles that call for a review of Washington's stiff economic sanctions against Havana. Over the weekend, attorneys for the magazine threatened to sue Miami-Dade County because of the ban. Mayor Alex Penelas reversed the decision on Sunday, stating that it had been made by low-ranking county officials without proper authorization. TOUR CONVENTION CUBA '99 UNDERWAY IN HAVANA Havana, May 3(RHC)-- Tour Convention Cuba '99 is underway at Havana's International Convention Center to promote the integration of tourism in the Caribbean. With the participation of nearly 2000 delegates, the convention includes a trade fair, an international conference on economic integration within the Caribbean and an Iberoamerican Tourism Image Festival. Cuban authorities reported that the winter tourist season that recently ended was very good. At a news conference over the weekend, the Cuban tourism industry reported that the Caribbean island received 497,800 visitors during the first three months of this year -- representing a 31.9 percent growth compared to the same period of 1998. According to Deputy Minister of Tourism Miguel Brugueras, the indicators obtained by the island during this season are a continuation of the process of integral and sustained growth in tourism over the past few years. The industry achieved a 78.5 percent occupancy during the period -- six percent more than last year. Revenues increased by 24 percent and profits by 26.8 percent, with a reduction in costs and expenditures of 1.2 cents per dollar produced. The most important markets for Cuba last year were Canada, Germany and Italy. CUBAN TRADE DELEGATION CURRENTLY VISITING CHINA Beijing, May 3(RHC)-- Cuba's Foreign Trade Minister Ricardo Cabrisas is in China to participate in the 9th Cuba-China Intergovernmental Commission, aimed at discussing economic and commercial relations between the two countries. The Cuban official is scheduled to meet with high-ranking Chinese business executives, among them the heads of the Chinese automobile industry, agricultural equipment produced in China and the deputy directors of machinery export and import companies. The Cuban delegation that is participating in the joint commission also includes Deputy Minister for Foreign Investment and Economic Cooperation Noemi Benitez, as well as the Director of the Cuban Foreign Ministry's Northern Africa, Middle East and Asia Department Ileana Valero. PRESIDENT OF CUBA'S CENTRAL BANK WINDS UP VISIT TO THE UNITED NATIONS Havana, May 3(RHC)-- The President of Cuba's Central Bank, Francisco Soberon, has ended his visit to the United Nations in New York. During his stay, the Cuban official participated in a session of the Group of 77 -- which includes 132 underdeveloped nations, including China. That group will become the Preparatory Committee for the South Summit 2000, slated to be held in Havana. The Cuban bank president said that it will be an honor for Cuba to host the forum, stating that the Cuban government and people are doing everything possible to make the event a success. [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-19487 1999-May-03 22:00:22