Radio Havana Cuba, September 8, 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 Wednesday, September 8, 1999. Today's stories: 1.- CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO ATTENDS CLOSING SESSION OF ADVANCE PREPARATORY MEETING FOR 9th IBERO-AMERICAN SUMMIT 2.- INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON DISASTERS UNDERWAY IN HAVANA 3.- CUBA'S ECONOMY AND PLANNING MINISTER VISITS SWEDEN 4.- CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY DELEGATION TOURS THE CUBAN CAPITAL CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO ATTENDS CLOSING SESSION OF ADVANCE PREPARATORY MEETING FOR 9th IBERO-AMERICAN SUMMIT Havana, September 8(RHC)-- Cuban President Fidel Castro attended the final session of the Advance Preparatory Meeting for the 9th Ibero-American Summit Tuesday evening. The two-day meeting was held in the Cuban capital with protocol directors, security teams and reporters from 19 Ibero-American countries. Participants studied logistical questions regarding the upcoming Summit, slated for November. Delegates to the meeting toured various sites where the heads of state and government will visit during their stay in Havana, including Jose Marti International Airport, the Palace of the Revolution and Old Havana. They also discussed lodging, medical services, communications and other details concerning the 9th Ibero-American Summit. The closing speech of the event was delivered by Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque, who said that a final declaration had been agreed upon with the consensus of all Ibero-American countries. According to the Cuban official, the document deals with the main topic of the Summit: Ibero-America and the International Financial Situation in a Globalized Economy. And the Cuban foreign minister affirmed that "Cuba is ready for the Summit." Asked by reporters to comment on the fact that the U.S. has been urging heads of state not to attend the Summit, Cuban President Fidel Castro said that he has not received official reports confirming the absence of any Ibero-American head of state to the annual summit. The Cuban leader also expressed satisfaction with preparations for the event and said that "Cuba has a lot of experience in the organization of these kinds of meetings." Finally, the leader of the Cuban Revolution assured everyone that his opening speech to Summit participants in November would be short since, as he said, "the Summit belongs to the Ibero- American nations and not to Cuba." INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON DISASTERS UNDERWAY IN HAVANA Havana, September 8(RHC)-- The 5th International Congress on Disasters is into its second day of sessions at Havana's International Convention Center. Organized by Cuba's Civil Defense headquarters, the Congress is being attended by some 200 delegates from 18 countries. The meeting includes the First International Seminar on Risk Management and the First International Exhibition of Technologies and Equipment for Civil Protection. Among the sponsors of this meeting on natural disasters is the Secretariat of the International Organization for the Reduction of Natural Disasters, the Pan American and World Health Organizations, the United Nations Development Program, the International Federation of Red Cross Societies and the European Community's Office for Humanitarian Aid. Issues discussed on Wednesday included the development of hydraulic resources in Cuba and its influence in the reduction of hydro-climatic disasters, the impact of droughts, preparations for and responses to natural disasters, chemical accidents and toxic waste spills. On the other hand, participants at the First International Seminar on Risk Management are dealing with issues ranging from risk assessment in energy and chemical processing operations to the prevention and control of risks in the tourism sector. Attended by some 80 specialists from various countries and representatives of international and regional organizations such as the Latin American Association for Agricultural Insurance, this seminar -- like the 5th Congress on Disasters -- winds up September 10th. CUBA'S ECONOMY AND PLANNING MINISTER VISITS SWEDEN Stockholm, September 8(RHC)-- Cuba's Economy and Planning Minster Jose Luis Rodriguez was welcomed by Sweden's Deputy Prime Minster, Lena Hjelm Wallen, upon his arrival in Stockholm. Rodriguez is in Sweden at the invitation of that country's government. The Cuban official spoke with the Swedish deputy prime minister about the island's economic recovery and its perspectives as well as bilateral issues. Jose Luis Rodriguez also met with Swedish Foreign Minister Jan Eliasson. During his stay in Stockholm, the Cuban economy and planning minister will also meet with the head of the International Cooperation Agency for Development, which already has several exchange programs with the island. CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY DELEGATION TOURS THE CUBAN CAPITAL Havana, September 8(RHC)-- The Under Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party from the province of Shanghai, Meng Yianzu, expressed his interest in broadening commercial relations and increasing cooperation programs between his country and Cuba. The statements came during the Chinese official's meeting with the Cuban Minister for Foreign Investment and Economic Cooperation, Martha Lomas. The under secretary of Shanghai's Communist Party, who is accompanied by Chinese business representatives, said that their meetings with Cuban government officials have been very fruitful. 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