Radio Havana Cuba, Wednesday, May 5, 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 5, 1999. Today's stories: 1.- ECUADORANS CRITICIZE THEIR GOVERNMENT'S RECENT VOTE ON ANTI-CUBA RESOLUTION IN GENEVA 2.- CUBA'S VICTORY OVER BALTIMORE: STILL THE TALK OF THE TOWN 3.- SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE ON AGRARIAN REFORM HOSTED BY CUBA 4.- CONGRESS ON PROTECTED AREAS GETS UNDERWAY NEXT WEEK 5.- CUBA HOSTS LATIN AMERICAN CONGRESS ON CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS 6.- CUBAN EDUCATION MINISTER OUTLINES IMPORTANCE OF JOINT PROGRAM ON EDUCATION AND HEALTH 7.- SOLIDARITY WITH CUBA INCREASES IN ITALY 8.- SUPER CLUBS EXPANDS IN CUBA AND THE REST OF LATIN AMERICA ECUADORANS CRITICIZE THEIR GOVERNMENT'S RECENT VOTE ON ANTI- CUBA RESOLUTION IN GENEVA Havana, May 5(RHC)-- An article sharply criticizing Ecuador for its recent anti-Cuba vote at the UN Human Rights Commission was published in Wednesday's edition of the Cuban daily Granma. The piece, written by distinguished Ecuadoran journalist Andres Carrion, was first published over the weekend in Ecuador's "Hoy" newspaper. Although officially submitted by the Czech Republic, the anti- Cuba resolution was written and strongly promoted by the United States. Caving-in to strong-arm tactics used by Washington, Quito broke with decades of tradition and voted against Cuba on April 23rd in Geneva, allowing the resolution to pass by a single vote. Ecuadoran journalist Andres Carrion, who writes a weekly column every Sunday in "Hoy," charges that with the shameful vote, his country lost the little it had: dignity, honor and national pride, by acting as a "messenger boy." The article goes on to state that it is painful to see the Ecuadoran government break with its tradition of coherent and respectable votes and become "submissive and servile." Carrion explains that Cuban President Fidel Castro himself sent a personal letter to Ecuadoran President Yamil Mahuad, reminding him of the honorable positions Quito had always maintained. Andres Carrion stated that it is shameful to give in to financial pressures, criticizing Ecuador for contributing to a possible invasion of Cuba. The article goes on to list important Ecuadoran cultural figures, both past and present, who would have been or are upset with the vote against Cuba and Latin American solidarity. Carrion notes that the intellectuals, artists and musicians who campaigned so hard to elect Mahuad are very disappointed with the country's vote at the Human Rights Commission. "Poor, but honorable." Carrion says that has been the great lesson of Cuba -- "the honor and dignity of its people." In fact, Carrion writes that Cuba "is the best example of dignity in this century." Finally, Ecuadoran journalist Andres Carrion states in Sunday's edition of "Hoy" newspaper that because of his country's anti-Cuba vote at the UN Human Rights Commission, "Ecuador is now poorer and less of a country." In related news, the International Affairs Commission of the Ecuadoran Congress will call on Foreign Minister Jose Ayala to explain the recent vote against Cuba in Geneva. Osvaldo Molestina Zabala, a congressional representative from the Social Democratic Party, says that the vote has broken a decades-old tradition in Ecuador, which has always voted against the U.S. anti-Cuba resolution or has abstained. CUBA'S VICTORY OVER BALTIMORE: STILL THE TALK OF THE TOWN Havana, May 5(RHC)-- Two days after Cuba's victory over the Baltimore Orioles, everyone is still talking about baseball. In the U.S. capital, Senator Christopher Dodd told reporters that Monday's game between the Cuban National Team and the U.S. major league team was positive for both countries. Dodd said it was great for the American people to see the skill and talent of Cuban amateur players and that he was personally impressed by the quality displayed by the Cuban team. Meanwhile, Colombian newspapers reported extensively on the 12 to 6 victory by Cuba at Camden Yards Stadium. Some papers described the win as "a Cuban Revolution in Baltimore." The newspaper "El Tiempo" said the match was an encounter between two cultures and that the amateur Cuban players looked quite comfortable in the major league park. Other news agencies and media from the region reported extensively on Cuban President Fidel Castro's speech at the victory rally in Havana on Tuesday, giving special mention to his condemnation of the U.S.-led NATO aggression against Yugoslavia and the island's offer to send some 1000 doctors to care for Kosovar refugees. SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE ON AGRARIAN REFORM HOSTED BY CUBA Havana, May 5(RHC)-- The past, present and future of the Agrarian Reform Law on the occasion of its 40th anniversary will be analyzed during a scientific conference scheduled to take place on May 12th at Havana's Historical Institute. An official from the Food and Agriculture Organization, Paulo Grapo, and Cuban Council of State member Oscar Pino Santos will discuss agrarian reform in Cuba and how it was put into practice. Various issues will be discussed during the conference, with the participation of delegates from Venezuela, Britain, the United States, Nicaragua and Mexico. Delegates will also discuss agrarian reform in Latin America and the Caribbean. CONGRESS ON PROTECTED AREAS GETS UNDERWAY NEXT WEEK IN HAVANA Havana, May 5(RHC)-- The Congress on Protected Areas -- scheduled to get underway on May 14th -- is one of a number of events of the 2nd International Convention on the Environment and Development. The congress will include an exchange between regional and international organizations dealing with protected areas, including the Latin American Network for the Technical Cooperation of National Parks. The head of the event's organizing committee, Gerhartz Muro, has confirmed the participation of experts from Costa Rica, Spain and the United States. CUBA HOSTS LATIN AMERICAN CONGRESS ON CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS Havana, May 5(RHC)-- The Sixth Latin American Congress on Children and Teenagers, Obstetrics and Gynecology is scheduled to get underway on May 17th at Havana's International Convention Center. Participants will discuss reproduction, endocrine problems and issues concerning young athletes. They will also present specific works on issues like physiology, mental health, sports medicine and others. Parallel to this event, the First Cuban Congress on Children- Teenagers Gynecology-Obstetrics and Reproductive Health will be held in Havana. Observers say this issue is of utmost importance for the island, which has 42 health centers for young girls in the Cuban capital. Cuba's experiences will be presented to over 900 delegates at the event. The participants will also tour a pediatric and maternal hospital and the Cerro Pelado High Performance Training Center. CUBAN EDUCATION MINISTER OUTLINES IMPORTANCE OF JOINT EDUCATION AND HEALTH PROGRAM Havana, May 5(RHC)-- Cuban Education Minister Luis Ignacio Gomez stressed the importance of a joint program in education and health, as both are related to the quality of life of some two and a half million people. Speaking with journalists in Havana, the Cuban official pointed out that the government's attention to children and teenagers is a special priority, given that they represent the most vulnerable sectors of the population. He stressed the importance of preventive care and the need to instill positive values in young people. The Cuban education minister said that youth need to follow healthy lifestyles, warning of the dangers of cigarettes and alcohol. Referring to the campaign against AIDS, Luis Ignacio Gomez stated that both the education and health ministries are working to educate young people about safe sex and the need to eliminate promiscuity. SOLIDARITY WITH CUBA INCREASES IN ITALY Havana, May 5(RHC)-- There has been a marked increase in solidarity with Cuba in Italy, according to the Vice President of the Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP), Ricardo Rodriguez. Rodriguez referred to the work of the Cuba-Italy Friendship Association, which has been sending donations to Cuba since 1991. The ICAP official added that the association was the first of its type -- created 38 years ago after the Bay of Pigs invasion. Italian solidarity activists are currently meeting in the central province of Ciego de Avila to discuss future cooperation between the Italian regions and Cuba. SUPER CLUBS EXPANDS IN CUBA AND THE REST OF LATIN AMERICA Havana, May 5(RHC)-- The Jamaican hotel chain Superclubs will soon be operating eight hotels with 2500 rooms in Cuba, according to the company's Chief Executive Officer John Issa. During a working-breakfast with reporters this week, Issa said that three new projects are being negotiated with Cuban tour companies. They'll jointly open the Breezes Las Dalias in eastern Holguin province with 480 rooms, the Breezes Cayo Coco in the keys off the eastern province of Ciego de Avila with 300 rooms and the Gran Lido Princesa at Varadero Beach resort with 400 suites. The new tour facilities are expected to be inaugurated between the year 2000 and 2001. The Jamaican hotel group, which currently has 15 hotels in Jamaica, the Bahamas and Cuba, operates four facilities on the island and opens the fifth, the Breezes Jibacoa, next week. According to CEO John Issa, since Superclubs began operations on the island ten years ago, they turned what he called "the ugly duckling of Varadero" into today's "swan" and added new properties to the Superclubs family. He stated that this is the result of the rapid expansion of the tourist industry on the island and the success of Club Varadero. Superclubs is also expanding to Brazil, where it will develop four resorts with Brazilian investors over the next two years. [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-5159 1999-May-06 00:18:51