Radio Havana Cuba, November 1, 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 1, 1999. Today's stories: 1.- CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO PRESIDES OVER MEETING WITH CUBAN JOURNALISTS ASSOCIATION 2.- HIGH-RANKING INTERNATIONAL OFFICIALS ATTEND HAVANA'S TRADE FAIR 3.- ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF ENERGY DISCUSSED AT SCIENTIFIC SYMPOSIUM IN EASTERN SANTIAGO DE CUBA 4.- CUBA AND SPAIN SIGN COOPERATION AGREEMENT AGAINST DRUG-TRAFFICKING 5.- MEMBERS OF CUBA-QUEBEC FRIENDSHIP CARAVAN SEND DONATION OF MEDICAL SUPPLIES TO THE ISLAND CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO PRESIDES OVER MEETING WITH CUBAN JOURNALISTS ASSOCIATION Havana, November 1(RHC)-- Cuban President Fidel Castro presided over a two-day, follow-up meeting of the 7th Congress of the Cuban Journalists Association (UPEC), which was attended by over 400 delegates and guests from across the island. Participants discussed issues related to the present situation and perspectives for Cuban journalism over the next six years, as well as compliance with the agreements reached during the 7th Congress of the Cuban Journalists Association last March. During the debates, Fidel Castro urged that the entire island become a school of journalism and called on all professionals who work with the media to improve their skills. During the two-day session, the Cuban president stressed the important role of journalists in promoting the achievements of the Cuban Revolution and defense of the island's culture as well as the defense of underdeveloped countries. The Cuban leader chacterized as admirable the work of Cuban media in Central America and Haiti where the Cuban health professionals are offering their services free-of-charge. HIGH-RANKING INTERNATIONAL OFFICIALS ATTEND HAVANA'S TRADE FAIR Havana, November 1(RHC)-- British Business Minister for Scotland, Brian Wilson, is in the Cuban capital to participate in Havana's International Trade Fair, FIHAV '99, which opened on Sunday. Wilson told journalists that this was his third visit to Cuba and expressed his satisfaction with the advances in trade between Britain and the Caribbean island. The Secretary of State of Economy and Technology Ministry of Germany's state of Saxony, Ralf Naguel, also arrived in the Cuban capital on Sunday to participate in the International Trade Fair. Other high-ranking officials that are attending Cuba's most important trade fair are French Secretary of State for Housing Lois Beson and Zimbabwe's Minister of Trade and Industry, Nathan Shamuyarira. ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF ENERGY DISCUSSED AT SCIENTIFIC SYMPOSIUM IN EASTERN SANTIAGO DE CUBA Santiago de Cuba, November 1(RHC)-- Alternative sources of energy, as opposed to the use of fossil fuels, is the main theme of the scientific symposium being held in the eastern city of Santiago de Cuba. According to the event's organizers, the meeting's main objective is to promote scientific exchanges between experts in the field. Other issues to be discussed are environmental education, biotechnology and the environment and the use of solar radiation. Sponsored by the Solar Energy Research Center in Santiago de Cuba, the symposium is organizing a women's research encounter related to energy technologies and its relation with the environment. The working sessions, which will run through Wednesday, include master conferences and roundtables as well as professional visits to research centers in Santiago de Cuba. CUBA AND SPAIN SIGN COOPERATION AGREEMENT AGAINST DRUG-TRAFFICKING Havana, November 1(RHC)-- Cuba and Spain have signed a cooperation agreement on the fight against drug-trafficking as part of the First Joint Commission Meeting between both nations. Spanish representative, Gonzalo Robles Orozco, expressed his satisfaction with the level of understanding between both countries in the fight against international drug-trafficking and the importance of this agreement for both governments. The Spanish official added that both Havana and Madrid also agreed on the training of professionals and the establishment of documentation centers on drugs. The agreement with Spain is part of 24 accords signed by Cuba in the field of drugs with Latin American countries, the European Union and Asia. MEMBERS OF CUBA-QUEBEC FRIENDSHIP CARAVAN SEND DONATION OF MEDICAL SUPPLIES TO THE ISLAND Montreal, November 1(RHC)-- Members of the Cuba-Quebec Friendship Caravan announced on Monday that they will ship a donation of medical supplies to Cuba as part of solidarity efforts with the people of the island. According to the Caravan's spokesperson, Jacque Boivin, residents from Quebec and the United States collected the humanitarian aid in New York and transfered it to Canada. Boivin told reporters that the medical donation successfully crossed the border near the Canadian city of Philipsburg. In 1997, U.S. Customs officials confiscated donations that were destined for the Cuban people. [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. 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