Radio Havana Cuba-8 July 2000 01:00 Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 8 July 2000 01:00 *U.S. OLYMPIC PRESIDENT ARRIVES IN THE CUBAN CAPITAL *5TH ORDINARY SESSION OF CUBAN PARLIAMENT OPENS NEXT WEEK *10TH SESSION OF CUBAN-SPANISH COOPERATION COMMITTEE WRAPS UP *CUBAN ECONOMY REGISTERS GROWTH IN FIRST SIX MONTHS OF 2000 *SANTIAGO: NATIONAL AGENCY OF TRADITIONAL CUBAN MUSIC INAUGURATED *HAVANA CARNIVAL OPENS JULY 21ST *U.S. OLYMPIC PRESIDENT ARRIVES IN THE CUBAN CAPITAL Havana, July 7 (RHC)-- The President of the U.S. Olympic Committee has arrived in the Cuban capital to begin a two-day visit to the island. William J. Hybl arrived at Jose Marti International Airport Friday afternoon and was received at Terminal Number Two by his Cuban counterpart, Jose Ramon Fernandez. During his brief stay on the island, the head of the U.S. Olympic Committee will have a packed agenda. He plans to meet with the president of the Cuban Sports Institute, Humberto Rodriguez, and is scheduled to sign a protocol with Cuba's Olympic Committee. Hybl will also meet with Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque and Cuban sports personalities, as part of an effort to strengthen bilateral relations in the area of sports. This is the first official visit ever of the head of the U.S. Olympic Committee to Cuba. William Hybl will offer a news conference tomorrow, Saturday, and is scheduled to leave Havana on Sunday. The U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) was founded in 1978, although the first U.S. Olympic organization was created in 1894. The USOC is made up of 25,000 athletes. *5TH ORDINARY SESSION OF CUBAN PARLIAMENT OPENS NEXT WEEK Havana, July 7(RHC)-- The Permanent Commissions of the Cuban Parliament will meet next Wednesday, July 12th, here in the Cuban capital for the 5th period of legislative sessions. Among issues to be discussed by Cuban deputies will be the current state of economic and cultural development, the fight against crime, and various youth assistance programs. *10TH SESSION OF CUBAN-SPANISH COOPERATION COMMITTEE WRAPS UP Havana, July 7(RHC)-- The 10th edition of the Cuban-Spanish Cooperation Committee concluded in Havana on Friday. The already traditional event is aimed at identifying areas for possible cooperation between the two nations, as well as strengthening bilateral trade exchange. On Friday, the Spanish delegation met with authorities in the Cuban Central Bank and the Ministries for Foreign Investment and Economic Cooperation, Foreign Trade and the Sugar Industry. *CUBAN ECONOMY REGISTERS GROWTH IN FIRST SIX MONTHS OF 2000 Havana, July 7(RHC)-- The Cuban economy continued to grow over the first six months of this year, during which all economic plans were successfully completed. Cuban Vice President Carlos Lage warned that the summer season is essential to determine Cuba's real capacity to face the hike in the oil prices. In that regard, Lage, who is also the Secretary of the Executive Committee of Cuba's Council of Ministers, pointed to the need to reduce oil consumption in order to avoid the damaging impact on both the business and residential sectors. *SANTIAGO: NATIONAL AGENCY OF TRADITIONAL CUBAN MUSIC INAUGURATED Santiago de Cuba, July 7(RHC)-- The National Agency of Traditional Cuban Music was inaugurated on Thursday in the eastern city of Santiago de Cuba. On hand for the inauguration were Cuban Culture Minister Abel Prieto, President of the Cuban Music Institute, Alicia Perea, and the President of the Cuban Record Company EGREM, Julio Ballester. The creation of the National Agency of Traditional Cuban Music is part of activities to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Havana-based Siboney Record Studios. *HAVANA CARNIVAL OPEN JULY 21ST Havana, July 7th(RHC)-- More than one million people will attend Havana's Carnival, scheduled from July 21st through August 13th, along the Havana sea-side drive, known as the famous Malecon. This year's event will be dedicated to the 40th anniversary of the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution and the 47th anniversary of the revolutionary assault on the Moncada barracks -an historical stronghold of the former Batista dictatorship. The Carnival will reflect the authentic customs and traditions of Havana's popular culture, expressing Cuban roots and identity. It will include musical performances by popular Cuban orchestras. The Children's Carnival is slated for July 23rd in order to mark the significant revolutionary date, July 26th, as well as the return to Cuba of six-year-old Elian Gonzalez. Distinctive features of the carnival will be the performances by the popular musical group Raices (Roots), Spanish and Cuban folklore groups, and popular expressions of Chinese and Arab roots on Cuban culture. (c) 2000 Radio Habana Cuba, NY Transfer News. All rights reserved. ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= rhc-eng-27861 2000-Jul-08 02:52:11