Radio Havana Cuba, Wednesday, May 19, 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 Wednesday, May 19, 1999. Today's stories: 1.- THIRD U.S.-CUBA BUSINESS SUMMIT UNDERWAY IN CANCUN 2.- SEMINAR ON CUBA'S NATIONAL HERO JOSE MARTI 3.- SEVEN MILLION TOURISTS A YEAR WILL VISIT CUBA BY 2010 4.- GERMAN BUSINESS DELEGATION WILL VISIT THE ISLAND 5.- SIXTH LATIN AMERICAN CONGRESS ON CHILDREN'S AND TEENAGER'S GYNECOLOGY AND OBSTETRICS CONTINUES IN HAVANA 6.- CUBA HAS HIGHEST NUMBER OF ELDERLY IN LATIN AMERICA 7.- SEVERE DROUGHT CONTINUES TO AFFECT EASTERN PART OF ISLAND 8.- FOREST FIRE IN PINAR DEL RIO PUT OUT THIRD U.S.-CUBA BUSINESS SUMMIT UNDERWAY IN CANCUN Cancun, May 19(RHC)-- The Third U.S.-Cuba Business Summit got underway Wednesday in the Mexican beach resort of Cancun. Representatives from 60 U.S. companies are attending the four-day event, which is designed to examine investment possibilities in Cuba, once Washington's economic blockade is lifted. Ricardo Alarcon, President of the Cuban Parliament, is heading the island's delegation to the meeting. Among those attending the Third U.S.-Cuba Business Summit is the Cuban Minister of Foreign Investment Ibrahim Ferradaz and representatives of the island's trade, basic industries and tourism sectors. The meeting in Cancun is sponsored by the Washington-based company Alamar Associates and the British newspaper The Financial Times. SEMINAR ON CUBA'S NATIONAL HERO JOSE MARTI Trinidad, May 19(RHC)-- The 26th National Seminar of the Marti Youth Studies Movement wound up on Wednesday in the central city of Trinidad on the occasion of the 104th anniversary of the death in combat of Cuba's National Hero Jose Marti. During the event, which had the participation of over 200 children and teenagers, 70 works were presented related to the thoughts and deeds of Jose Marti. The national activity on the 104th anniversary of the death in combat of Jose Marti was held at the historical site of Dos Rios in the eastern part of the island. SEVEN MILLION TOURISTS A YEAR WILL VISIT CUBA BY 2010 Madrid, May 19(RHC)-- Cuba's Deputy Minister for Foreign Investment and Economic Cooperation, Marta Lomas, has announced that by the year 2010, the island expects to receive seven million tourists annually. The Cuban official made the announcement during the IBERALIA Congress taking place in Madrid. She affirmed that tourism in Cuba is growing at an annual rate of 20 percent and urged foreign businesses to invest on the Caribbean island. GERMAN BUSINESS DELEGATION WILL VISIT THE ISLAND Havana, May 19(RHC)-- A German business delegation, organized by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Cologne, is scheduled to begin a visit to the island on May 27th. The business executives will meet with their Cuban counterparts at Havana's Hotel Nacional to discuss business opportunities on the island. The German representatives have shown interest in exchanging information in the fields of construction, production equipment, oil refineries, travel agencies and real estate. SIXTH LATIN AMERICAN CONGRESS ON CHILDREN'S AND TEENAGER'S GYNECOLOGY AND OBSTETRICS CONTINUES IN HAVANA Havana, May 19(RHC)-- Delegates to the 6th Latin American Congress on Children's and Teenager's Gynecology and Obstetrics, underway in Havana, discussed the special attention that young people require. During the debate, experts pointed out that teenagers constitute a challenge due to social, psychological and biological changes. The teen population has reached an important phase in modern society. They represent almost one-fourth of the world's population -- mainly in Western, developed countries -- and it is estimated that by the year 2000, there will be over 244 million teenagers in Latin America and the Caribbean. More than 900 delegates to the event are also discussing issues of importance to young people, including such topics as teenage pregnancy, abortion and maternal mortality. The objective of the Latin American Congress on Children's and Teenager's Gynecology and Obstetrics is to establish an exchange of experiences with scientific and prestigious international experts. CUBA HAS HIGHEST NUMBER OF ELDERLY IN LATIN AMERICA Havana, May 19(RHC)-- Cuba has the highest number of elderly in Latin America, with 13 percent of its population over 60 years of age, according to the National Director of Elderly Assistance, Dr. Enrique Vega. During a conference on the issue, with the participation of health experts from the island's central provinces, Dr. Vega pointed out that an older population is a positive and healthy sign for Cuban society. However, the health specialist said he was concerned that by the year 2025, one of every four Cubans will be over 60 years of age. Dr. Enrique Vega pointed out that attention to the elderly is one of the four programs prioritized by the island's Health Ministry. Cuba will be the site of the World Congress on the Elderly, slated to take place from September 27th through October 1st. SEVERE DROUGHT CONTINUES TO AFFECT EASTERN PART OF ISLAND Havana, May 19(RHC)-- As a result of the severe drought affecting the eastern region, authorities in the municipalities of San Antonio del Sur and Imias in the province of Guantanamo have issued the first phase of an alert. At the same time, municipal authorities in Maisi and Manuel Tames, also located in eastern Guantanamo province, declared a state of alert. According to the President of the provincial government, Rolando Calzada, the region has received only 48 percent of the total expected annual rainfall. Among some of the measures being taken to confront the drought situation is the distribution of drinking water to some 20,000 people and the evacuation of more than 2000 head of cattle. The planting of seeds has also been delayed due to the lack of rain. FOREST FIRE IN PINAR DEL RIO PUT OUT Pinar del Rio, May 19(RHC)-- The forest fire in San Juan and Martinez in western Pinar Del Rio province has been completely extinguished after thousands of fire fighters and volunteers fought the blaze for six days. Local authorities said that the fire extended to forest areas near Minas de Matahambre and spread through the mountainous region where it intensified. Before it was finally put out, the forest fire threatened to spread to other areas of the municipality. No victims or damage to houses were reported, but there was severe damage to the area's environment. Specialists are now studying the amount of environmental destruction in the region and will soon issue a report with their findings. [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-18734 1999-May-20 10:59:53