Radio Havana Cuba, 11 Nov 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 These are Radio Havana Cuba's top stories for this Thursday, November 11, 1999. 1. - CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO WARNS SMALL OPPOSITION GROUPS THAT DISRUPTION OF IBEROAMERICAN SUMMIT WILL NOT BE TOLERATED 2. - 8th CONGRESS OF THE LATIN AMERICAN JOURNALISTS ASSOCIATION UNDERWAY IN HAVANA 3. - HAVANA IS READY FOR THE 9th IBERO-AMERICAN SUMMIT OF HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT 4. - CUBA'S CATHOLIC BISHOPS CONFERENCE GREETS PARTICIPANTS OF THE 9th IBERO-AMERICAN SUMMIT 5. - CD-ROM ON IBERO-AMERICAN SUMMITS RELEASED IN HAVANA 6. - PRESIDENT OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC ARRIVES IN HAVANA ON SUNDAY 7. - CUBA EXPECTS TO END 1999 WITH FIVE TO SIX PERCENT GROWTH IN ITS GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO WARNS SMALL OPPOSITION GROUPS THAT DISRUPTION OF IBEROAMERICAN SUMMIT WILL NOT BE TOLERATED Havana, November 11, RHC -- Cuban President Fidel Castro has warned small opposition groups that authorities will not tolerate any attempts to disrupt Havana's upcoming Iberoamerican Summit. The warning came late Wednesday in a more than 7 hour press conference before national and international correspondents following an incident spearheaded by a small group of so-called dissidents in Havana's Lawton neighborhood. Residents of the neighborhood faced off with the protesters, who had invited correspondents from international media outlets. The Cuban President confirmed the arrest of 2 of the so-called dissidents, and accused some international media correspondents of looking for a spectacle in the on-going effort to discredit the Cuban Revolution. President Castro said those sponsoring the small opposition groups --in reference to Washington and the ultra-right wing members of Miami's Cuban-American community -- are embittered due to the imminent success of the Havana gathering of heads of state and government from Iberoamerica. He said these sectors have created what he called a dissident industry, in which its members oftentimes have falling outs and disputes with respect to the distribution of the hundreds of thousands of dollars they receive from abroad. The leader of the Cuban Revolution said the so-called dissidents are only capable of gathering 30 or 40 people at one time. He said they are not prevented from participating in municipal and provincial elections, but refrain from doing so because they have no base of support among the Cuban population due to the lies they spread and their lack of any type of ideology. Fidel Castro's press conference coincided with today's publication inthe Granma news daily of an article detailing how the so-called independent groups in Cuba are financed. In an article entitled "Washington's Men in Havana", columnist Nicanor Leon Cotayo pointed to the documentary evidence of the more than 6 million dollars that these groups have received this year alone from the US's Agency for International Aid. The article mentions the October 21st, 1998 budget law approved by the U.S. congress that included 12 amendments concerning Cuba. One of them granted a minimum of 2 million dollars to finance opposition groups on the island. According to Leon Cotayo, this practice is hardly new, and dates back to the beginning of the Cuban Revolution. He pointed to the secret document declassified in February of last year drawn up in 1961 by then-CIA Inspector General Lyman Kirkpatrick in reference to the 4 million 400 thousand dollars authorized by the White House for covert actions against Cuba. The article details abundant evidence concerning the financial contributions to opposition groups in Cuba by the ultra-right wing National Endowment for Democracy, as well as the articles in the Helms-Burton Law openly providing funds for the so- called dissidents. 8th CONGRESS OF THE LATIN AMERICAN JOURNALISTS ASSOCIATION UNDERWAY IN HAVANA Havana, November 11(RHC)-- The 8th Congress of the Latin American Journalists Federation is underway in Havana as part of activities leading up to the 9th Ibero-American Summit. Some of the issues to be discussed include communications and information in a globalized world, the economic crisis and its impact in the region, the role of journalists in the face of neo-liberalism, and the historic experience of the Latin American Journalists Association. There are currently 28 organizations from 21 countries and over 50 associations, institutions, small businesses and work centers that are members of the Latin American Journalists Association. HAVANA IS READY FOR THE 9th IBERO-AMERICAN SUMMIT OF HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT Havana, November 11(RHC)-- The rain has been no obstacle for reporters from some 38 countries to be very busy here at the 9th Ibero-American Summit press center, as they prepare for the upcoming events leading to the conference, slated for Monday and Tuesday next week. The summit, whose main agenda will be Ibero-American and the international financial situation in a globalized economy, and its impact on the region, is attracting the attention of hundreds of journalists from more than 355 media outlets. In its commitment to make Cuban reality available to foreign journalists, the press center has invited ministers and high-ranking officials to exchange with the guests. The president of the Cuban Sports Institute, Humberto Rodriguez, was available for questions Thursday morning. Rodriguez noted that sports has been an instrument for promotion, exchange and friendship among Ibero-American peoples and illustrated how Cuba has kept intensive exchanges with almost all countries of the region He said that sports is a practice to build friendship ties between human beings and that Cuba is committed to continue with its cooperation policy. He added that more than 6000 Cuban trainers have worked in 46 countries over the last six years. On Tuesday, Minister of economy and Planning Jose Luis Rodriguez told journalists about the island's efforts to curve the economic crisis and that the gross domestic product is expected to reach a 6% at the end of the year. As the summit date gets nearer, work is becoming more hectic among journalists, who are getting ready for the arrival of the dignitaries, beginning Saturday with Brazilian President Fernando Henrique Cardoso topping the list. RHC will be bringing our listeners details of the 9th Iberoamerican Summit.Reporting from Pabexpo, I'm Jorge Miyares." CUBA'S CATHOLIC BISHOPS CONFERENCE GREETS PARTICIPANTS OF THE 9th IBERO-AMERICAN SUMMIT Havana, November 11(RHC)-- Cuba's Catholic Bishops Conference has issued a declaration in Havana, welcoming the participants to the 9th Ibero-American Summit, slated to begin next Monday, November 15th, in the Cuban capital. After outlining the common cultural identity and historical ties shared by the people of Latin America, Spain and Portugal, the statement noted that the sentiments expressed by Pope John Paul II during his historic visit to Cuba last year will be extended to each man and women in the region. The statement of Cuba's Catholic Bishops urges all Ibero-American political, social, business, cultural and religious leaders to unite for the benefit of their peoples. CD-ROM ON IBERO-AMERICAN SUMMITS RELEASED IN HAVANA Havana, November 11(RHC)-- The Genesis Publishing House of Prensa Latina News Agency has released a multi-media compact disk with information on previous Ibero-American Summits, including the 9th Summit, slated for next week in Havana. The CD-ROM is divided into three parts -- "Countries, Summits and the 9th Summit" -- which include texts, documents, photographs and videos related to the 21 Ibero-American nations. The multi-media CD presented by the Genesis Publishing House will be made available to the public during the Ibero-American Summit, November 15th and 16th in the Cuban capital. Meanwhile, Prensa Latina News Agency revealed that during the visit of Spain's King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia, a bilingual, compact disk will be presented entitled "Spain in Cuba." PRESIDENT OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC ARRIVES IN HAVANA ON SUNDAY Havana, November 11(RHC)-- The President of the Dominican Republic, Leonel Fernandez, will be heading a delegation to Cuba which is scheduled to arrive in Havana on Sunday. The Dominican Republic's ambassador to Cuba, Daniel Guerrero, pointed out that the visit of Fernandez will be an historic event, because it will be the first visit to the island of a Dominican president in the last 40 years. The diplomat added that this will provide a good opportunity to sign new bilateral accords and further strengthen commercial relations between the two Caribbean nations. The Dominican president will also participate in the 9th Ibero-American Summit in Havana as an invited guest. Cuban President Fidel Castro visited the Dominican Republic last August, which he participated in the Caribbean Forum. CUBA EXPECTS TO END 1999 WITH FIVE TO SIX PERCENT GROWTH IN ITS GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT Havana, November 11(RHC)-- Cuban Economy and Planning Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez has announced that the island expects to end 1999 with a five to six percent growth in its Gross Domestic Product. During a meeting with journalists accredited to the 9th Ibero-American Summit, the Cuban official said that this figure is much better than other Latin American nations which, in most cases, is practically zero. The Cuban Minister of Economy and Planning pointed out that the improvement in the Gross Domestic Product is mainly associated with greater efficiency in the country's investments, the constant growth of tourism, and this year's increased sugar production. Referring to the main issue to be discussed during the 9th Ibero-American Summit -- the international financial situation in a globalized economy -- Jose Luis Rodriguez emphasized that Cuba is on the road to economic recovery despite the indirect effects of the international financial crisis. [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-3576 1999-Nov-11 19:04:20