Radio Havana Cuba, October 29, 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 Friday, October 29, 1999. Today's stories: 1.- ILLINOIS GOVERNOR GEORGE RYAN BEGINS EFFORTS TO STEP UP RELATIONS BETWEEN HIS STATE AND CUBA FOLLOWING VISIT TO HAVANA 2.- MEETING OF IBERO-AMERICAN LAWYERS WINDS UP IN THE CUBAN CAPITAL 3.- CUBAN HEALTH OFFICIALS TAKE ACTION AGAINST AEDES AEGYPTI MOSQUITO 4.- HAVANAS NEW AMBASSADOR ARRIVES IN SPAIN 5.- MEXICAN LAWMAKERS MEET THEIR CUBAN COUNTERPARTS IN HAVANA ILLINOIS GOVERNOR GEORGE RYAN BEGINS EFFORTS TO STEP UP RELATIONS BETWEEN HIS STATE AND CUBA FOLLOWING VISIT TO HAVANA Springfield, October 29(RHC)-- Illinois Governor George Ryan announced Thursday that he has begun the process to create a commission charged with strengthening ties of friendship and cooperation with the people of Cuba. Following his five-day visit to Havana, which wound up on Wednesday, Ryan said he would name a group of prominent citizens in the fields of medicine, agriculture, sports, the arts and education to form the commission. The Illinois governor stated that with this initiative, the people of Illinois and the people of Cuba will be able to work together to enhance the living conditions of children, combat diseases, conduct scientific investigations that could lead to new discoveries in the fields of public health and nutrition and preserve cultural and historic treasures. During a news conference following his return to Illinois, Ryan admitted that he was surprised to learn that Cuban doctors had developed a Meningitis B vaccine -- a disease, he added, that affects hundreds of Americans every year. Professor Felix Masud Piloto, Director of the Latin American Studies Program at the University of Illinois in Chicago, stated that Ryan's move to create a commission is not going to be popular due to opposition from the right-wing Cuban-American community and the Federal government. He nevertheless called the decision positive, stating that the two governments have differences and probably always will, but that the peoples of the two nations need to maintain open channels of communications. MEETING OF IBERO-AMERICAN LAWYERS WINDS UP IN THE CUBAN CAPITAL Havana, October 29(RHC)-- An international meeting of Ibero-American lawyers ended in Havana on Friday. The Latin American, Spanish and Portuguese legal experts discussed the challenges of globalization, conflict resolution and other topics. The meeting's final session Friday focused on issues of arbitration and lawyers volunteering their services worldwide. The encounter is one of a series of meetings leading up to the 9th Ibero-American Summit, slated for the Cuban capital on November 15th and 16th. CUBAN HEALTH OFFICIALS TAKE ACTION AGAINST AEDES AEGYPTI MOSQUITO Havana, October 29(RHC)-- Cuban health officials announced on Thursday that six measures are being promoted nationally to insure that dengue fever is a thing of the past. After dengue fever was deliberated introduced into the country by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency in l981, a national program was set up to eradicate the Aedes Aegypti mosquito, which is a carrier of the disease. Currently, the insect has not reappeared in 139 of the country's 169 municipalities and, according to Cuban health authorities, today's low indices of infestation make it highly unlikely that an epidemic of dengue could break out. Experts also say that the rapid containment of a dengue epidemic in Santiago de Cuba in 1997 represents a success for Cuba's disease control program. The passing of Hurricane Irene over Cuba this month prompted new measures against the Aedes Aegypti mosquito. A campaign is being mounted, promoting six actions for people to take against the mosquito, including keeping water tanks covered, making holes in cans before they are discarded and storing empty bottles upside down. The first official day for the eradication of the Aedes Aegypti mosquito has been set for Saturday, November 6th. HAVANAS NEW AMBASSADOR ARRIVES IN SPAIN Madrid, October 29(RHC)-- Cuba's newly-appointed ambassador to Spain, Isabel Allende, arrived in Madrid on Friday. Allende will officially begin her mission next month. The Cuban diplomat, who served as deputy foreign minister when she was appointed to the new post, told Prensa Latina News Agency in Madrid that she was very happy to be in Spain, where she was received by members of the Cuban mission there and officials from the Spanish foreign ministry. In November, Isabel Allende will present her credentials to King Juan Carlos as Cuba's new ambassador to Spain. Her designation, which was announced last September by Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque, elevates the level of the Cuban mission in Spain. Sources say that Isabel Allende, who in her capacity as deputy foreign minister was in charge of Cuban's relations with the European Community, is well-respected in Spain. The Cuban foreign minister also stated that it was his hope that the Cuban embassy in Madrid, under the direction of Allende, would help to expand and strengthen bilateral relations. MEXICAN LAWMAKERS MEET THEIR CUBAN COUNTERPARTS IN HAVANA Havana, October 29(RHC)-- Cuban and Mexican lawmakers began meetings on Friday to strengthen friendship between parliaments and bilateral relations in general. Representatives from Cuba and Mexico opened the Third Inter-Parliamentary Meeting between the two countries, which is analyzing how work is proceeding between the two parliaments and perspectives for new projects and cooperation. The Mexican and Cuban representatives will also examine how globalization has affected their countries. Tomorrow, Saturday, at the closing of the inter-parliamentary meeting, the participants will sign a joint declaration. [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-15226 1999-Oct-30 14:49:43