Radio Havana Cuba, September 17, 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, September 17, 1999. Today's stories: 1.- HAVANA OFFERS MEDICAL ASSISTANCE TO EAST TIMOR; CUBAN FOREIGN MINISTER POSTPONES VISIT TO PORTUGAL 2.- CUBA'S DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE REQUESTS 20 TO 30 YEAR PRISON SENTENCES FOR GUATEMALAN MERCENARIES ARRESTED IN HAVANA 3.- LATIN AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN ECONOMISTS DEMAND AN END TO WASHINGTON'S BLOCKADE AGAINST CUBA 4.- CUBAN MEDICAL BRIGADE IN NICARAGUA MAKES AN IMPACT 5.- CUBA TAKES PART IN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE AGAINST AIDS AND TROPICAL DISEASES IN AFRICA 6.- CUBA AND ZAMBIA SIGN SPORTS COOPERATION AGREEMENTS 7.- UNDERSECRETARY OF ITALY'S FOREIGN MINISTRY WILL SOON VISIT CUBA HAVANA OFFERS MEDICAL ASSISTANCE TO EAST TIMOR; CUBAN FOREIGN MINISTER POSTPONES VISIT TO PORTUGAL Havana, September 17(RHC)-- Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque has postponed a planned visit to Portugal, given the situation in Lisbon's former colony of East Timor. In a statement released by the Cuban Foreign Ministry, Perez Roque will pay an official visit to Portugal at a more convenient time. The Cuban foreign minister ended a two-day visit to Spain on Friday and was scheduled to travel to Lisbon to meet with Portuguese officials. However, given the urgent situation in East Timor and the organization of a United Nations peace-keeping force over the next few days, both governments agreed that the foreign minister's official visit should take place at a later date. At the same time, the Cuban Foreign Ministry noted that an international peacekeeping force in East Timor is, under the exceptional circumstances of the conflict, important and necessary. The statement calls for the peacekeeping force to be under the strict command of the United Nations and without any intentions of hegemony or favoring powerful regional or foreign forces. As long as the force is under UN command and there are no imperialist designs, Cuba is prepared to take part by sending a team of medical personnel to East Timor to treat victims of the violence. The Foreign Ministry note states that once the international peace-keeping force ends its mission, Cuba is willing to offer civilian medical brigades, for as long as necessary, to continue treating people in East Timor. CUBA'S DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE REQUESTS 20 TO 30 YEAR PRISONS SENTENCES FOR GUATEMALAN MERCENARIES ARRESTED IN HAVANA Havana, September 17(RHC)-- Cuba's district attorney's office has requested 20 to 30 year prison sentences for three Guatemalan mercenaries arrested last year in Havana. Judicial authorities are requesting 30 year prison sentences for Miguel Abraham Herrera Morales and Yazid Fernandez Mendoza, and 20 years for Maria Elena Gonzalez Mesa -- all accused of belonging to a terrorist network that carried out bomb attacks against Cuban tourist installations in Havana. The three Guatemalans, who arrived in Havana with tourist visas, were arrested in March 1998 and charged with possession of explosives to be used in the terrorist attacks. Cuba has charged that the mercenaries were members of a terrorist network based in Central America and led by fugitive Cuban-American terrorist Luis Posada Carriles. In recent Havana trials against two Salvadorans belonging to the network, Havana's district attorney's office presented evidence and testimony demonstrating that the terrorist operation was financed by the ultra-right wing Miami-based Cuban-American National Foundation. The mercenaries received 4500 dollars for each bomb placed in Cuban tourist installations. LATIN AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN ECONOMISTS DEMAND AN END TO WASHINGTON'S BLOCKADE AGAINST CUBA Rio de Janeiro, September 17(RHC)--Latin American and Caribbean economists meeting in Rio de Janeiro have demanded an end to Washington's blockade against Cuba. Over 1000 economists unanimously condemned the U.S. government for attempting to destroy Cuba for the last 40 years. The statement, passed in Rio de Janeiro on Friday, recalls that the United Nations General Assembly has condemned Washington's blockade for the past seven consecutive years. In 1998, 157 countries voted in favor of lifting the blockade and only two countries, the United States and Israel, voted against. Latin American and Caribbean economists believe that Washington's blockade against the island is illegal and deprives the Caribbean island of international markets, indispensable credits for its development and basic needs. The resolution demands that the international community support the struggle to defend the most elementary principles of justice, the right to life and liberty of the peoples. The Latin American and Caribbean economists called on Washington to stop its policy of genocide. CUBAN MEDICAL BRIGADE IN NICARAGUA MAKES AN IMPACT Managua, September 17(RHC)-- The Cuban medical brigade in Nicaragua has treated more than 149,000 people in just nine months. And the results of its work have been remarkable. In statements to Cuba's daily Granma, Doctor Reynaldo Perez Rosario, head of the island's medical mission in Nicaragua, said that since the arrival of the Cuban doctors in the Central American nation, the infant mortality rate has been significantly lowered. He added that infant mortality due to severe diarrhea has decreased by some 42.8 percent and cholera has been reduced by over 70 percent. CUBA TAKES PART IN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE AGAINST AIDS AND TROPICAL DISEASES IN AFRICA Lusaka, September 17(RHC)-- Cuba is participating in the 11th International Conference against AIDS and Tropical Diseases in Africa, currently taking place in Zambia with more than 7600 delegates from 77 countries. Cuban Deputy Health Minister Raul Perez spoke about the work the island has carried out in AIDS prevention. The Cuban health official also mentioned the island's cooperation in the health sector, which over the past 36 years, has sent 25,700 doctors to different countries around the world -- offering their services free of charge. CUBA AND ZAMBIA SIGN SPORTS COOPERATION AGREEMENTS Havana, September 17(RHC)-- Cuba and Zambia signed a sports cooperation agreement on Thursday, aimed at promoting technical cooperation and the exchange of experience among the two countries. The document was signed in Havana during the visit of Zambian Sports, Youth and Child Development Minister, Abel Muzonda Chambeshi. The accord includes the training of Zambian athletes in Cuba, the purchase of Cuban sports material and joint equipment production, as well as Cuban sports trainers to travel to the African country. UNDERSECRETARY OF ITALY'S FOREIGN MINISTRY WILL SOON VISIT CUBA Havana, September 17(RHC)-- The Undersecretary of Italy's Foreign Ministry, Valentino Marteli, will begin an official visit to Cuba on Monday. The Italian official is expected to meet with Cuban Foreign Ministry officials and will participate in the International Surgery Congress to be held in Havana. This is the third visit of an Italian deputy foreign minister to Cuba in the last two years and confirms the excellent relations between the two nations. [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-16941 1999-Sep-17 21:32:35