Radio Havana Cuba, Tuesday, May 4, 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 Tuesday, May 4, 1999. Today's stories: 1.- CUBA'S NATIONAL BASEBALL TEAM RETURNS HOME TO A HERO'S WELCOME AFTER DEFEATING BALTIMORE 12 TO 6 2.- CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO OFFERS ONE THOUSAND DOCTORS TO TREAT REFUGEES IN YUGOSLAVIA 3.- PHILADELPHIA BOYS CHOIR TOURS THE ISLAND 4.- TOUR CONVENTION CUBA '99 CONTINUES IN HAVANA 5.- CUBAN WOMEN: AN IMPORTANT LABOR FORCE ON THE ISLAND 6.- PRESIDENT OF INTERNATIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE VISITS THE ISLAND 7.- CUBA'S FIRST HEALTH AND BEAUTY SPA UNDER CONSTRUCTION CUBA'S NATIONAL BASEBALL TEAM RETURNS HOME TO A HERO'S WELCOME AFTER DEFEATING BALTIMORE 12 TO 6 Havana, May 4(RHC)-- The Cuban National Baseball Team, which beat the Baltimore Orioles 12 to 6 last night, was given a hero's welcome in Havana Tuesday morning. The Cuban capital and the entire country awoke in festive spirits and thousands poured into the streets to greet the motorcade that took the athletes to the steps of Havana University for the victory ceremony. The baseball players, along with the large delegation that travelled to Baltimore, was met at the University by a cheering crowd of thousands. Winning pitcher Norge Luis Vera, escorted by Daniel Castro, Andy Morales and Ariel Pestano, brought the Cuban national flag that the team took with them to Baltimore to fly over the rally. Omar Linares, one Cuba's top baseball players, addressed the crowd and expressed the team's pride in their victory, which he dedicated to the Cuban people. President Fidel Castro who had earlier welcomed the team at the airport, was on hand at the ceremony and spoke to the crowd for three hours. He described the first victory of Cuban amateur players over a U.S. major league team as "historic," pointing out that the myth that amateurs could never beat U.S. professionals had proven to be false. Fidel Castro praised the qualities and virtues of Cuban baseball players, noting the relentless efforts of anti-Cuba activists who offer large sums of money to lure the Cuban athletes to defect. He said they seek to undermine the Cuban sports movement and deprive the island of the glories it has achieved in the Olympic Movement. CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO OFFERS ONE THOUSAND DOCTORS TO TREAT REFUGEES IN YUGOSLAVIA Havana, May 4(RHC)-- During his speech at the victory rally for Cuba's national baseball team on Tuesday, Cuban President Fidel Castro spoke about the current situation in Yugoslavia and the U.S.-led NATO aggression. The Cuban leader offered up to 1000 medical doctors to care for Kosovar refugees and he harshly criticized NATO bombings of Yugoslavia. "Europe," he said, "is currently involved in a conflict that is extremely dangerous to the continent and the world," warning that the NATO bombings "show total contempt for international law." PHILADELPHIA BOYS CHOIR TOURS THE ISLAND Matanzas, May 4(RHC)-- The Philadelphia Boys Choir, currently touring Cuba, performed Tuesday evening at the While Hall in Matanzas province. While in the city, the choir is scheduled to meet with the Matanzas Chamber Choir and other community groups. The choir, made up of 87 boys, was founded 26 years ago and has toured 40 countries. First performing at the Saint Francis of Asis last Thursday in Havana, the all-boy's choir is also scheduled to visit eastern Santiago de Cuba. The Philadelphia Boys Choir participated in the May Day march last Saturday at the Jose Marti Plaza de la Revolucion with the participation of over one million Cubans. They told reporters that the march was "unforgettable." TOUR CONVENTION CUBA '99 CONTINUES IN HAVANA Havana, May 4(RHC)-- Participants at Tour Convention Cuba '99 have called for the integration of the Caribbean in the sector and will promote the region as a single tourism destination, according to the president of the event's organizing committee, Mirabel Riquenes. Riquenes told reporters that running parallel to the Tour Convention there is a commercial fair, scientific conference and an Iberoamerican Festival, as well as activities that will permit the development of regional cooperation. The president of the organizing committee also underscored that representatives from Central America, Mexico and South America will present their products. Among other issues, this forum will discuss the introduction of new tourism modalities, joint investments and economic associations. CUBAN WOMEN: AN IMPORTANT LABOR FORCE ON THE ISLAND Havana, May 4(RHC)-- Women make up more than 37 percent of Cuba's labor force, according to Rosario Fabre, member of the National Secretariat of the Federation of Cuban Women, the FMC. Fabre said that there is a strong demand for labor in Cuba which offers women opportunities in agriculture, the sugar industry and development plans associated with tourism. She added that among the opportunities is professional training for Cuban women. Currently, 66 percent of the technicians and professionals on the island are women. PRESIDENT OF INTERNATIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE VISITS THE ISLAND Havana, May 4(RHC)-- The President of the International Chamber of Commerce, Adnan Kassar, is scheduled to arrive in Havana tomorrow, Wednesday. His visit responds to an invitation by the Cuban Chamber of Commerce. Adnan Kassar will visit the Ministries of Foreign Trade, Tourism, Foreign Investment and Economic Cooperation, Economy and Planning. The International Chamber of Commerce was founded in 1919 and is considered to be one of the principal business organizations in the world. It works to promote business interests at international levels, to foster greater freedom of international trade and to facilitate business and trade practices. The International Chamber of Commerce is based in Paris, France. CUBA'S FIRST HEALTH AND BEAUTY SPA UNDER CONSTRUCTION Santa Clara, May 4(RHC)-- The construction of a health and beauty spa is underway in the keys northeast of the province of Villa Clara. The Cuban SERVIMED Company and a French firm will soon begin construction work on installation. It was noted that there are currently no health and beauty spas of this type in Cuba. The center will include doctors, saunas, physiotherapy, massage and other treatments with the capacity for 400 tourists daily. The health and beauty spa is expected to be ready by next year. 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