Radio Havana Cuba, Thursday, May 13, 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 Thursday, May 13, 1999. Today's stories: 1.- CUBAN VICE PRESIDENT JOSE RAMON FERNANDEZ VISITS AUTONOMOUS REGION OF ASTURIAS 2.- INTER-PARLIAMENTARY HEALTH CONFERENCE BEGINS IN HAVANA 3.- HIV/AIDS TECHNICAL COOPERATION GROUP CONTINUES IN HAVANA 4.- GERMAN BUSINESS DELEGATION TOURS THE ISLAND 5.- CUBA CONTINUES TO WORK ON THE PRODUCTION OF VACCINES 6.- CUBAN FOREIGN TRADE MINISTER INAUGURATES CUBA-RUSSIA JOINT INTER-GOVERNMENTAL COMMISSION IN MOSCOW CUBAN VICE PRESIDENT JOSE RAMON FERNANDEZ VISITS AUTONOMOUS REGION OF ASTURIAS Oviedo, May 13(RHC)-- Cuban Vice President Jose Ramon Fernandez, currently on a visit to the Spanish autonomous region of Asturias, stated that despite constant threats from Washington, Spanish businesses make up many of Cuba's 360 mixed enterprises using foreign capital. The Cuban leader spoke with reporters at a news conference in Oviedo, the capital of Asturias, where Fernandez met with the region's President Sergio Marques. Jose Ramon Fernandez stressed that the objective of his visit to Asturias and Galicia is to strengthen bilateral commercial relations and to promote business opportunities in Cuba. The Cuban vice president visited La Foz de Morcin, where his parents were born, and met with the president of the Asturian Parliament, Faustino Gonzalez, the mayors of Oviedo and Gijon -- Gabino de Lorenzo and Vicente Alvarez respectively -- as well as other government officials. INTER-PARLIAMENTARY HEALTH CONFERENCE BEGINS IN HAVANA Havana, May 13(RHC)-- The Inter-Parliamentary Health Conference is underway in Havana with the attendance of legislators from the Latin American Parliament and regional health ministers. Participants will discuss the elderly and the aging population, the protection of women's and children's health as well as issues related to policies in the fight against drug and tobacco consumption. The Inter-Parliamentary Health Conference, which winds up on Saturday, will make recommendations to the Iberoamerican Summit, scheduled to take place in November in the Cuban capital. HIV/AIDS TECHNICAL COOPERATION GROUP CONTINUES IN HAVANA Havana, May 13(RHC)-- An HIV/AIDS Technical Cooperation Group has proposed the creation of an international fund to make medicine more available for HIV patients in the region. The group, which is made up of representatives from Latin America and the Caribbean, is holding its annual meeting in Havana. The director of the Cuban Health Ministry's Epidemiology Department, Manuel Santin Pena, told journalists that participants will also discuss the issue of financial cooperation. The HIV/AIDS Technical Cooperation Group announced it will create an network to exchange information among member nations. GERMAN BUSINESS DELEGATION TOURS THE ISLAND Havana, May 13(RHC)-- A German business delegation, headed by the President of the Federation of Industries, Hans Olaf Henkel, has toured oil drilling installations and the Varadero Beach Resort as part of their visit to the island. The German delegation, interested in expanding economic and commercial relations with Cuba, visited the Energas Project which, in conjunction with a Canadian firm, uses the natural gas that is obtained when oil is extracted to generate electricity for the island. The German business group met with Cuban Vice President Carlos Lage and examined investment possibilities in tourism, construction and the development of chemical products. After winding up their visit to Cuba, the German business executives will travel to Jamaica. CUBA CONTINUES TO WORK ON THE PRODUCTION OF VACCINES Sancti Spiritus, May 13(RHC)-- Cuba continues to work in the production of vaccines to fight diverse human ailments, according to the Director of Havana's Biotechnology Center, who is currently visiting central Sancti Spiritus province. The Biotechnology Center is in the first phase of clinical tests to produce a vaccine against AIDS, say organizers of the Third National Biotechnology Workshop, taking place at the School of Medical Sciences in Sancti Spiritus. In addition to the vaccines, the number of specialties have also increased as well as the number of Cuban scientists and researchers whose products are in high demand in more than 30 international markets. CUBAN FOREIGN TRADE MINISTER INAUGURATES CUBA-RUSSIA JOINT INTER-GOVERNMENTAL COMMISSION IN MOSCOW Moscow, May 13(RHC)-- Cuban Foreign Trade Minister Ricardo Cabrisas has inaugurated the Third Session of the Cuba-Russia Joint Inter-governmental Commission in Moscow, aimed at reviving cooperation ties between the two countries. The Cuban trade official said that the commission will also help expand economic, commercial and scientific-technical cooperation between Russia and Cuba and he briefed participants on the island's economic recovery. The Russian delegation stated that it may invest private capital for the conclusion of some pending works in Cuba, such as the Juragua nuclear plant in Cienfuegos. It was also announced in Moscow that a commercial agreement and cooperation accord in the field of health were signed during the meeting. [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-25541 1999-May-14 01:09:31