Radio Havana Cuba, October 11, 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 Monday, October 11, 1999 1.- CUBAN FOREIGN MINISTER IN BOLIVIA 2.- CUBAN SALSA GROUP LOS VAN VAN PERFORMS IN MIAMI DESPITE RIGHT WING PROTEST 3.- WEEKLY HAVANA-GENEVA FLIGHTS TO BEGIN NOVEMBER 5TH 4.- SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN WITH CUBA IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC REITERATES ITS CONDEMNATION OF WASHINGTON'S ECONOMIC BLOCKADE AGAINST THE ISL 5.- ACTIVITIES COMMEMORATING THE 32ND ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEATH IN COMBAT OF ERNESTO CHE GUEVARA CONTINUE IN LATIN AMERIC CUBAN FOREIGN MINISTER IN BOLIVIA Havana, October 11 (RHC)-The Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque, on an official visit to Bolivia, commented from La Paz, Sunday, that if the United States lifts the blockade on Cuba, the d's annual economic growth would be in the two figures. The Minister made the statement in a meeting with representatives of the Cuban community in Bolivia as well as parents of students being hosted and trained to be doctors at the Latin American Scho of Medicine in Havana who thanked him for what his nation was doing for their sons and daughters The Foreign Minister said that economic analysts had calculated the potential improvement in the island's economy based on the enormous number of US tourists that were expected to visit the island ce the blockade is down. Perez Roque added that his country had survived the worst of the economic crisis and that the island's economy was slowly but surely recovering thanks to the resistance of its population. He said was difficult to estimate when Washington might lift the blockade but that it would happen with the increased pressure from both international and internal sources. Members of the US business an gricultural sectors have been especially critical about their opposition to the blockade, sending representatives to Cuba on a regular bas The Cuban Foreign Minister rejected arguments that US politicians placate the Cuban American community for votes. There are only 257 thousand Cuban voters in the US in a total of 117 million, he d. Rather, they are more interested in the money that organizations like the Cuban American Foundation can raise for their campaig Perez Roque officially invited the Bolivian President Hugo Banzer to the Ibero American Summit set for November. The Bolivian leader accepted the invitation and said he would atte CUBAN SALSA GROUP LOS VAN VAN PERFORMS IN MIAMI DESPITE RIGHT WING PROTEST Miami, October 11 (RHC)- The Cuban salsa group, Los Van Van turned the Miami Arena into a giant dance hall despite one of the largest protests by ultra right wing Cuban Americans who had attempt to block the performance. Some two thousand people jammed into the Miami Arena on Saturday, to enjoy the salsa music of one of Cuban's legendary orchestras. Many of the spectators wore masks to hide their identities from rightwing protesters. Before the concert began , the director of the Van Van group, Juan Formell welcomed the audience by saying, Good evening Miami, Good evening Cuba. You represent millions of people. There are mor ho love us than those who don't. Meanwhile, the concert's promoter ,Debbie Ohanian ,said that she will bring the Cuban salsa band back to Miami in December Ohanian characterized the concert as excellent after a long fight as right wing Cuban Americans, including Miami Mayor, Joe Carollo, attempted to force the city to cancel the show According to the concert promoter, the Van Van's performance was an illustration that in Miami there is an audience that wants to enjoy Cuban music and she said she is hopeful that there will be s intimidation when and if Los Van Van performs again. Ohanian stressed that more Cuban musicians will be invited to play in the Florida ci Rightwing Cuban Americans in Miami insulted, and physically attacked spectators who went to see the Cuban salsa group and called the performance a provocati Reporter for Notimex news agency, Alberto Garcia said that the police made the mistake of placing barricades at the entrance of the theater. Garcia was one of many injured by the violence of rig wing Cuban Americans protesting the popular Cuban group's presence in Miami. The Van Van group ended a five week tour of the USA which began in Denver, Colorado WEEKLY HAVANA-GENEVA FLIGHTS TO BEGIN NOVEMBER 5TH Havana, October 11 (RHC)-Cuba and Switzerland will have weekly flights starting November 5TH The information was confirmed by Switzerland's Transportation Ministry which authorized a request by Cubana Airlines The regular flight between Havana and Geneva will be jointly operated by the French company Air Outremer and Cubana Airlines. The new route is in reponse to growing tourism on the isla SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN WITH CUBA IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC REITERATES ITS CONDEMNATION OF WASHINGTON'S ECONOMIC BLOCKADE AGAINST THE ISL Santo Domingo, October 11 (RHC)-The Solidarity Campaign With Cuba in the Dominican Republic reiterated its condemnation of Washington's economic blockade against Cuba in a resolution drafted durin ts 6th national encounter on Sunday in Santo Domingo. The organization's coordinator ,Ivan Rodriguez, told Prensa Latina News agency that participants also agreed to declare a national day in solidarity between the two nations on the day the school t Cuba helped construct in Bani is inaugurated. They also declared Cuban President Fidel Castro, ambassador of brotherhood and solidarity between peoples and the gave their support to the lawsuit of the Cuban people against the US government fo 0 years of attacks and aggressions. Rodriguez said that the Dominican Campaign in solidarity with Cuba will reinforce its work in the country. The 6th national encounter held on Sunday was dedicated in the 32nd anniversary of the d h in combat of Ernesto Che Guevara. ACTIVITIES COMMEMORATING THE 32ND ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEATH IN COMBAT OF ERNESTO CHE GUEVARA CONTINUE IN LATIN AMERIC Buenos Aires, October 11 (RHC)-Activities commemorating the 32nd anniversary of the death in combat of Cuban Argentinean guerrilla Ernesto Che Guevara continued over the weekend in the General San rtin Cultural Center in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Hundreds of university students gathered in the Buenos Aires park where a book containing 12 interviews with Cuban personalities was launch During the book presentation the coordinator of Che's personal archives in Cuba, Carmen Ariet, spoke about the legendary guerrilla and Argentine singer Daniel Viglietti performe On Sunday night, some 500 people gathered at the San Martin Cultural Center to remember the guerrilla fighter and a special tribute was paid to his mother Celia de la Ser THE DAUGHTER OF ERNESTO CHE GUEVARA ATTENDS CEREMONY IN HONOR OF HER FATHE Santo Domingo, October 11 (RHC)-Doctor Aleida Guevara said in the Dominican Republic on Monday, that she is privileged to be the biological daughter of a great man, but above all for having been ated in Revolutionary Cuba During a ceremony commemorating the Cuban- Argentine guerrilla Ernesto Che Guevara, Aleida noted that the Cuban Revolution, with figures like Che, educated generations of Cubans creating a differe type of person, with a great capacity to love and to give their best for others I believe, said Che's daughter, that is the greatest achievement of the Cuban Revolution: the creation of a different kind of human being , guided by the example of President Fidel Castro and C Aleida Guevara praised the solidarity of the Dominican people and their efforts to end the US's blockade against Cuba which is something, she said, that the Cuban people apprecia The activity commemorating the 32nd anniversary of the death in combat of Ernesto Che Guevara ended with an exhibition entitled "Constant Image" which gathered over 100 posters of using Che Guev image. ara'ste.he..nt . educRna.d. ed. MaAeatr 4thag iANDnd.... ht on.ty.les. .e w eed Snd.ns.saiis.d a it .ol islanAANDS. [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-20530 1999-Oct-11 16:03:16