Radio Havana Cuba-22 June 2000 22:00 Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 22 June 2000 22:00 *SHAKA SANKOFA'S IMPENDING EXECUTION *TRADE FAIR EXPOCARIBE 2000 SURPASSES EXPECTATIONS *COLOMBIA'S VICE PRESIDENT IN CUBA TO ATTEND TRADE FAIR *FIRST CONGRESS ON CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRY UNDERWAY *DIPLOMATS FROM AFRICA, MIDDLE EAST VISIT SCIENTIFIC INSTALLATION *ALGERIA'S MINISTER FOR YOUTH AND SPORTS SIGNS ACCORD WITH CUBA *JAPAN - CUBA DIRECT FLIGHTS STARTING IN AUGUST *SHAKA SANKOFA'S IMPENDING EXECUTION Havana, June 22 (RHC)-- Today's roundtable discussion on Cuban TV focused on tonight's scheduled execution of African American prisoner Shaka Sankofa at the Huntsville maximum security prison in the US state of Texas. The conditions under which Sankofa was convicted, and given the death penalty were discussed at length. It was noted by panelists that blatant discrepancies surrounding his case, such as contradictory eye witness testimony and an incompetent defense provided by the state, only confirm what many human rights organizations contend. That being poor and black promotes injustices on a massive scale in the US - not just socially, but also within the legal system. Citing a Colombia University investigation on capital punishment in the U.S., roundtable participants once again highlighted the disproportionate percentages of minorities on death row. TV journalist Reinaldo Taladrid commented that if Texas Governor George Bush is capable of what he termed as legally murdering Sankofa for political gain, what kind of a president is he likely to make. It is the second time Bush has allowed a controvertial execution to take place in the face of an election in a state notorious for its get-tough-on-crime stance. However, despite this, polls show that 57% of Texans feel that there is a firm possibility that innocent people have been executed in their state. Taladrid questioned that if Bush became president under these conditions what kind of policies would he apply toward the Third World? Radio Havana Cuba's reporter on US affairs, Barbara Bettancourt, commented on a New York Times editorial condemning the execution in the light of obvious disparities and an evident mistrial. It was very rare, said the editorial, that the NYT commented two days in a row on the same issue. Bettancourt added that it was generally agreed that 52% of the 134 - soon to be 135 - individuals executed under Bush's administration had questionable convictions. As of the writing of this report Shaka Sankofa's execution has been stayed by a Federal Court in Austin pending a final appeal by his lawyers in spite of a 5-4 US Supreme Court ruling denying last minute clemency. *TRADE FAIR EXPOCARIBE 2000 SURPASSES EXPECTATIONS Havana, June 22 (RHC)-- The 9th International Trade Fair EXPOCARIBE 2000, currently underway in eastern Santiago de Cuba, has surpassed this year's expectations and serves as a focal point of investment in the Cuban economy. Important agreements, valued at one million dollars, have been signed in the course of the event. The President of Cuba's Chamber of Commerce, Hector Perez, said on Wednesday in Santiago that some 310 business executives from 44 countries are participating in the fair. It's Cuban counterparts represent some 640 firms. *COLOMBIA'S VICE PRESIDENT IN CUBA TO ATTEND TRADE FAIR Havana, June 22 (RHC)-- Colombia's Vice President, Gustavo Bell arrived on Wednesday in Havana to participate in the International Trade Fair, EXPOCARIBE 2000, being held in eastern Santiago de Cuba. Cuban Vice President Carlos Lage welcomed his Colombian counterpart who also met with other government officials. The Colombian Vice President, who is heading a business delegation from his country, told journalists that they will sign a cooperation accord between the Chamber of Commmerce of Cuba and the Colombian city of Barranquilla. *FIRST CONGRESS ON CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRY UNDERWAY Havana, June 22 (RHC)-- The first National Congress on Child and Adolescent Psychology is underway at Havana's ORTHOP Convention Center. Event participants include experts from Europe and the Americas. Reporter Thelma Rodriguez is there and filed this report: The Cuban program for mental health with special emphasis on children and adolescence was the theme of a master conference delivered by Dr. Cristobal Martinez during the event's opening ceremony. Dr. Martinez - who is president of the organizing committee - focused on the role played by the family, the school and the community in the caring and protection of children and adolescents, and offered a panorama of child psychiatry on the island in relation to strategies and perspectives. Child abuse will be the theme of a special round table scheduled for Friday. Also present in the opening ceremony were Dr. Yamila de Armas, Cuba's deputy Health Minister, UNICEF representative Dr. Odalys Rodriguez and the President of the American Academy for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Dr. Clarence Chesterbaum among other personalities. The First National Congress on Psychiatry for Children and Adolescence winds up on Saturday. *DIPLOMATS FROM AFRICA, MIDDLE EAST VISIT SCIENTIFIC INSTALLATION Havana, June 22 (RHC)-- Diplomats from African and Middle Eastern countries visited the Cuban Pharmaceutical and Chemical Center located in eastern Havana. The diplomats learned of Cuba's scientific achievements in the field of medicine. The diplomatic corps also got a first hand look at the research being done with 17 varieties of mangos which are used in the production of a medicine, called VIMANG, which has been proven effective for tumor condition. *ALGERIA'S MINISTER FOR YOUTH AND SPORTS SIGNS ACCORD WITH CUBA Havana, June 22 (RHC)-- Algeria's Minister for Youth and Sports, Abdelmalek Sellal is in Cuba, on an official visit, with the objective of strengthening bilateral relations. During his stay in Cuba, the Algerian official plans to sign a sports cooperation agreement, with the President of Cuba's Sports Institute, Humberto Rodriguez. The Algerian official attended, on Thursday the preparatory meeting of the World Youth and Student Festival to be held next year in Algeria. He said that the objective of the Festival is to unite the world's youth and think about the problem of neoliberal globalization and the difficulties posed by structural adjustment. *JAPAN - CUBA DIRECT FLIGHTS STARTING IN AUGUST Havana, June 22 (RHC)-- For the first time, Japanese will be able to visit Cuba on direct flights with Japan Airlines starting in August. The Deputy Minister of Cuba's Tourism Ministry, Martha Maiz, made the announcement adding that greater efficiency and numbers of Japanese tourists are expected from these direct flights. Cuban tourism officials state that tourism has increased by 20 percent, from last year's statistics, and pointed out that the majority of vacationers in Cuba are from Canada, Germany, and Britain. She added that currently they work towards diversifying and expanding the tourism industr, highlighting the eastern part of the island, mainly Holguin and Santiago de Cuba. (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-10222 2000-Jun-22 23:09:27