Radio Havana Cuba, Monday, November 15, 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 Monday, November 15, 1999. Today's stories: 1.- CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO OFFICIALLY INAUGURATES HAVANA'S LATIN AMERICAN SCHOOL OF MEDICAL SCIENCES 2.- VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT CALLS FOR END TO BRUTAL BLOCKADE OF CUBA 3.- MEXICAN FOREIGN MINISTER CALLS ON WASHINGTON TO REVOKE INFAMOUS HELMS-BURTON LAW 4.- FORMER NICARAGUAN PRESIDENT ATTENDS 9th IBERO-AMERICAN SUMMIT 5.- LETTER FROM NICARAGUAN NGOs AND POLITICAL GROUPS TO IBERO-AMERICAN LEADERS AT HAVANA SUMMIT 6.- IBERO-AMERICAN FOREIGN MINISTERS CHOOSE MEXICAN DIPLOMAT AS FIRST SECRETARY GENERAL OF IBERO-AMERICAN SECRETARIAT OF COOPERATION 7.- VENEZUELAN CULTURE WEEK BEGINS TODAY IN HAVANA 8.- PRESIDENT OF LATIN AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN CHRISTIAN PEACE MOVEMENT SAYS IBERO-AMERICAN SUMMIT IS TOOL FOR REGIONAL PEACE 9.-SPAIN'S KING JUAN CARLOS AND QUEEN SOFIA VISIT OLD HAVANA 10.- CUBAN MINISTER OF CULTURE PRAISES ECUADOREAN PAINTER GUAYASAMIN 11.- 6th IBERO-AMERICAN JOURNALISTS FEDERATION CONTINUES IN HAVANA 12- U.S. PHYSICIAN DEMANDS HALT TO PROSECUTION OF SOLIDARITY ORGANIZATION PASTORS FOR PEACE CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO OFFICIALLY INAUGURATES HAVANA'S LATIN AMERICAN SCHOOL OF MEDICAL SCIENCES Havana, November 15(RHC)-- Ibero-American leaders in Havana attended the opening of the Latin American School of Medical Sciences Monday evening -- the first item on the official agenda of the 9th Ibero-American Summit. Excitement was in the air as the school's nearly 2000 students saw Latin American leaders head to the presidential stand. In his inaugural speech, Cuban President Fidel Castro noted that the idea of creating the school was the result of the disasters left by two hurricanes that battered the Caribbean and Central America last year -- leaving behind the images of thousands of bodies being carried by the waters. Fidel said Cuba promised to help the affected nations "in a world where promises are often forgotten." The leader of the Cuban Revolution said that an idea that encouraged Cuba to work on the school was the fact that without world-wide coverage, more people die of preventable and curable diseases in these nations than those who perish in natural disasters. The Cuban president noted that the school "is Cuba's modest contribution to Ibero-American peoples' unity and integration." Other speakers at the rally were the school rector, Juan Carrizo Perez, and Guatemalan student Carlos Flores Perez. Flores Perez expressed the students' commitment to work in their nations' most isolated areas, following the example set by Cuban medical doctors who have gone to all continents of the world. Prior to the official ceremony, Cuban Health Minister Carlos Dotres briefed the Ibero-American leaders on the school's structure and academic activities. The school, a former military academy, currently hosts 1929 students of 47 ethnic groups from 18 Latin American countries. Next year, 1500 more students will enroll in the institution. They will begin a two-year course consisting of basic subjects, then continue their medical career in one of the island's twenty medical schools. Following the official inauguration ceremony, Ibero-American leaders attended a special dinner at the invitation of Cuban President Fidel Castro. Later, the representatives of Latin America, Spain and Portugal attended a gala cultural presentation at Havana's Cathedral. VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT CALLS FOR END TO BRUTAL BLOCKADE OF CUBA Caracas, November 15(RHC)-- Shortly before boarding a flight to Cuba to participate in the Ibero-American Summit, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez once again called on Washington to end its brutal blockade of the island. The Venezuelan leader told reporters that he will take advantage of every opportunity to denounce what he called the U.S. government's "unjustifiable policy with respect to Cuba." He added that this is not only Venezuela's demand, but that of all the peoples of the Americas. President Hugo Chavez also stated that he did not fear for his life, referring to recent press versions that members of Colombia's right wing paramilitary death squads are planning to assassinate him. Chavez said his government has friends everywhere, who are keeping his country's intelligence services informed and up-to-date. MEXICAN FOREIGN MINISTER CALLS ON WASHINGTON TO REVOKE INFAMOUS HELMS-BURTON LAW Havana, November 15(RHC)-- Mexican Foreign Minister Rosario Green reiterated her country's call on Washington to revoke the Helms-Burton Law, which tightens the U.S. economic blockade of Cuba. After a meeting of Ibero-American foreign ministers Monday in Havana, the top Mexican diplomat told reporters that her country's position is in line with the recently approved resolution by the UN General Assembly, which once again this year overwhelmingly voted for the lifting of Washington's blockade of the island. The Mexican foreign minister also asserted that her country rejects the imposition of any unilateral and extraterritorial law. Such measures, said Rosario Green, have a negative impact on international relations and affect the spirit of cooperation and solidarity among nations. FORMER NICARAGUAN PRESIDENT ATTENDS 9th IBERO-AMERICAN SUMMIT Havana, November 15(RHC)-- Former Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega is attending the 9th Ibero-American Summit in the Cuban capital as a special guest. The Nicaraguan leader and head of the opposition Sandinista National Liberation Front, the FSLN, was already in Cuba on a working-visit and was invited to attend the Ibero-American meeting by Cuban President Fidel Castro. The presence of Daniel Ortega -- the first democratically-elected president of Nicaragua after the overthrow of the Somoza dictatorship in 1979 -- contrasts sharply with the decision by current President Arnoldo Aleman to stay away from the Ibero-American Summit. Many observers believe that Aleman is paying back a debt to the right wing Miami-based Cuban American National Foundation, which provided contributions to the Nicaraguan president's election campaign in 1996. LETTER FROM NICARAGUAN NGOs AND POLITICAL GROUPS TO IBERO-AMERICAN LEADERS AT HAVANA SUMMIT Managua, November 15(RHC)-- Non-governmental organizations and political groups in Nicaragua have sent a letter to the heads of state and government meeting in Havana for the 9th Ibero-American Summit. The letter, which is signed by representatives of popular organizations and 14 opposition political parties, warns of "an institutional crisis" caused by the administration of Nicaraguan President Arnoldo Aleman. The letter addressed to leaders of the Ibero-American countries calls attention to the case of Comptroller General Agustin Jarquin, charged with corruption. They pointed out that Jarquin was arrested just when he began an investigation accusing the Nicaraguan president of illegal activities. The signers of the letter also state that it is unacceptable that in a country as poor as Nicaragua, ministers and other top government officials receive astronomical salaries between eight to twelve thousand dollars a month -- while the average worker only makes 50 dollars. According to the letter sent from Managua to the heads of state at the Ibero-American Summit in Havana, while the rest of Central America is undergoing a process of consolidation, Nicaragua is headed full-speed in reverse, with corruption scandals shaking the highest offices of the country. IBERO-AMERICAN FOREIGN MINISTERS CHOOSE MEXICAN DIPLOMAT AS FIRST SECRETARY GENERAL OF IBERO-AMERICAN SECRETARIAT OF COOPERATION Havana, November 15(RHC)-- Mexican diplomat Jorge Alberto Lozoya was chosen by Ibero-American foreign ministers to be the first Secretary General of the Ibero-American Secretariat on Cooperation that will be based in Madrid, Spain. The Secretariat was officially set up Monday morning when foreign ministers of Latin America, Spain and Portugal signed the accords and statutes of the organization. Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque voiced Cuba's satisfaction and said that from now on, Ibero-American nations will have a tool to enhance the region's ability to interact within current economic circumstances. The ministerial meetings, slated for the morning, just covered 1 hour and forty minutes, since all of the eight documents that were brought to the foreign ministers' attention were almost completed the day before, by the coordinators. With the world's population expected to increase by 3 billion within the next 25 years, an acute shortage of fresh water looming on the horizon and the announcement by the United States of creation of the Latin American Free Trade Zone, just to name a few reasons, nations of Latin America find themselves in desperate need of forging economic alliances to face the serious challenges. Speaking with Radio Havana Cuba, the foreign ministers of Mexico and Venezuela -- Rosario Green and Jose Vicente Rangel, respectively -- expressed their satisfaction with the documents of the summit and the organizing capacity displayed by Havana in preparations of the summit. Earlier today, the presidents of Colombia, Panama, Venezuela and Guatemala arrived in Havana and were welcomed personally by the Cuban president. VENEZUELAN CULTURE WEEK BEGINS TODAY IN HAVANA Havana, November 15(RHC)--Venezuelan Culture Week began Monday in Havana as part of the broadening of relations between Venezuela and Cuba. The week's activities includes an agenda organized by Venezuela's embassy in Cuba on the occasion of the official visit of President Hugo Chavez. There will be an exhibition of 46 sculptures open to the public in front of the Saint Francis of Assisi Convent located in Old Havana and the showing of films originating in Venezuela. PRESIDENT OF LATIN AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN CHRISTIAN PEACE MOVEMENT SAYS IBERO-AMERICAN SUMMIT IS TOOL FOR REGIONAL PEACE Havana, November 15(RHC)-- The President of the Latin American and Caribbean Christian Peace Movement, Sergio Arce, stated Monday that the Ibero-American Summit is a tool for regional peace and the coordination of economic policies. The religious leader expressed his satisfaction with the regional leaders' willingness to get together and criticized the U.S. government's attempts to impose neo-liberal free market systems in Latin America through its powerful economic structures. The presence of the Ibero-American leaders in Havana, emphasized Arce, is proof that U.S. attempts to sabotage the important summit meeting have failed. SPAIN'S KING JUAN CARLOS AND QUEEN SOFIA VISIT OLD HAVANA Havana, November 15(RHC)--Spain's King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia and Spain's President Jose Maria Aznar toured Old Havana as part of the activities of their visit to Cuba to attend the 9th Ibero-American Summit. Accompanied by the Havana City Historian, Eusebio Leal, the Spanish Royal Couple and President visited the Old Plaza, St. Francis of Assisi Convent and the Captain General's Residence Museum among other places of interest in the city's colonial area. In addition to the other Ibero-American heads of state and government, the Spanish King and Queen are invited to the Cultural Gala at the Cathedral Square on the eve of the 480th anniversary of the founding of the Villa San Cristobal de la Havana and other activities marking the birthday of the capital. After a breakfast meeting on Monday with Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio, King Juan Carlos told journalists in Havana that he is very happy to be among the Cuban people. CUBAN MINISTER OF CULTURE PRAISES ECUADOREAN PAINTER GUAYASAMIN Havana, November 15(RHC)-- Cuban Culture Minister Abel Prieto praised the decision by Ibero-American leaders to name the late Ecuadorian Oswaldo Guayasamin as the painter to represent Ibero-America. In statements to journalists in the Cuban capital, Prieto said that Guayasamin exhibited a very special sensibility in his expression of the concerns of the people of the South and of the oppressed. The Cuban minister of culture said that there currently exists in Latin America a clear desire to build bridges of communication and alternatives to the strong influence of the United States on the region's culture. 6th IBERO-AMERICAN JOURNALISTS FEDERATION CONTINUES IN HAVANA Havana, November 15(RHC)-- Delegates from the 6th Congress of Ibero-American Journalists Federation, currently taking place in Havana, are discussing the role of journalists in the international financial crisis as well as their training in the face of globalization. During the debates, the delegates also discussed the need for changes in university study programs in accordance with new technological advances. The Dean of Cuba's School of Social Communications, Julio Garcia Luis, urged the broadening journalistic ties between universities in Latin America, Spain and Portugal with the objective of strengthening relations and contributing to the improvement of the education system. U.S. PHYSICIAN DEMANDS HALT TO PROSECUTION OF SOLIDARITY ORGANIZATION PASTORS FOR PEACE Tampa, November 15(RHC)-- A U.S. physician in Florida is protesting the prosecution of the solidarity organization Pastors for Peace by the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control, the OFAC. Doctor Anthony Kirkpatrick has posted his protest on the Internet, stating that his research on the direct adverse effects of the U.S. blockade on the health of the Cuban people has been documented in numerous scientific journals. According to Kirkpatrick, it will take courage for the OFAC to distance itself from corrupting influences within the U.S. government as it pursues its prosecution of Pastors for Peace. He stated that corruption and incompetence at the highest levels in Washington is well-documented. The physician, who on several occasions has refuted Washington's claim of allowing humanitarian aid to Cuba, said that on April 15, 1997, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright was publicly confronted by the news daily The Los Angeles Times concerning the blockade of food and medicine to Cuba. Albright told the Times that there is no embargo by the U.S. on food and medicine to Cuba. Kirkpatrick said that the State Department has been monitoring his research closely for several years and that the agency drafted a letter to the editor of The Lancet -- one of the most widely read scientific medical journals -- protesting his conclusion that the embargo is directly attacking the health of the Cuban people by blocking their access to food and medicine. But the U.S. physician insists that his findings do not stand alone. The American Association of World Health, said Kirkpatrick, has published a well-documented, 300-page report on the U.S. blockade of food and medicine to Cuba. He said the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights of the Organization of American States has repeatedly called on Washington to end the blockade for humanitarian reasons. Kirkpatrick stated that many respected medical journals, including The Lancet, New England Journal of Medicine, American Journal of Public Health, Neuroepidemiology, Journal of Neurological Science and others have carried articles documenting the health effects of the blockade. According to Kirkpatrick, there simply are no studies that reach any other conclusion. He said Pastors for Peace has made a significant contribution to democracy by providing Americans and their representatives in Congress with a viewpoint contrary to the corrupting influence of the State Department. Kirkpatrick charged that the State Department is intent on obfuscating the role played by the U.S. government in violating the most basic of international conventions governing human rights. He is calling on U.S. citizens to contact James Johnson, Deputy Secretary for Enforcement at the U.S. Department of Treasury. [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-11135 1999-Nov-15 23:11:55