Radio Havana Cuba-7 June 2000 21:30 Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 7 June 2000 21:30 *US CUBAN ADJUSTMENT ACT RESPONSIBLE FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION AND MURDER *PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERATION OF CUBAN WOMEN, ITALIAN MINISTER MEET AT UN *WORLD ORGANIZATION OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AWARDS CUBA WITH GOLD MEDAL *MORE CUBAN STUDENTS REGISTER FOR HEALTH CAREERS *CUBA SIGNS COOPERATION PROGRAM WITH TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO *Viewpoint: IT'S BUSINESS AS USUAL DURING ANOTHER ELECTION YEAR IN THE US *US CUBAN ADJUSTMENT ACT RESPONSIBLE FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION AND MURDER Havana, June 7 (RHC)-- A roundtable discussion, broadcast live on Cuban radio and television Wednesday evening, dealt with an analysis of the Cuban Adjustment Act -- a U.S. law that encourages illegal immigration and has led many to their untimely deaths. Panelists on the program referred to the legislation which has been on the books since 1966 -- granting those who touch dry land special treatment and legal residence in the United States. Participating journalists and experts agreed that the Cuban Adjustment Act only serves to promote illegal immigration, placing at risk the lives of thousands who try to leave the island. Cuban television viewers watched video clips of several illegal departures of rafters, who were caught by U.S. authorities on the high seas. The videos clearly showed Cuban Coast Guard officials warning the illegal immigrants that their attempt to cross the Florida Straits was not only against the law but also extremely dangerous. The rafters were offered help, but refused any assistance from Cuban authorities. Accompanied by a Cuban Coast Guard boat to make sure their flimsy raft did not sink, the illegal immigrants were arrested by U.S. authorities just outside of Cuban territorial waters and subsequently returned to the island. It was pointed out by the panelists during Wednesday evening's roundtable that approximately half of those who try to leave Cuba illegally have criminal records, including armed robbery and other serious crimes. Cuban television and radio broadcast the interviews of several immigrants returned to the island by U.S. authorities. Many of them admitted making the attempt several times before; one told reporters that he has tried to leave four times on a raft and has been caught by the U.S. Coast Guard and repatriated four times. All of those interviewed affirmed that they were encouraged by the Cuban Adjustment Act to try to reach the United States illegally. On Wednesday evening's special program, six repatriation operations during the month of May were studied, including a group of 42 illegal immigrants who were returned to Havana this afternoon. Several of those interviewed said they would try to reach the United States again -- to take advantage of Washington's legislation, designed to promote illegal immigration. The roundtable discussion was aired on Cuban television, the national radio network and the international shortwave frequencies of Radio Havana Cuba. *PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERATION OF CUBAN WOMEN, ITALIAN MINISTER MEET AT UN New York, June 7 (RHC)-- The President of the Federation of Cuban Women (FMC), Vilma Espin, and the Italian Minister for Equal Opportunities, Katia Belillo, met in New York Tuesday to discuss issues relating to bilateral cooperation. The discussions form part of programs related to a special session on the rights of women, currently being held at the United Nations in New York. The Cuban and Italian representatives also discussed issues related to programs in favor of children and the possibilities of broadening ties between the two countries. The bilateral cooperation includes Italy's interest in learning about the experiences of community work by the Federation of Cuban Women, as well as sex education and the father's involvement in raising children. The FMC president spoke before the plenary of the United Nations on Tuesday. She affirmed that the island's follow-up plan to agreements adopted five years ago in Beijing are evidence of the government's commitment to comply with the rights of women in the country. This special session of the UN General Assembly will end on Friday with a final document that will reaffirm commitments approved during the 4th World Conference on Women held in Beijing in 1995. *WORLD ORGANIZATION OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AWARDS CUBA WITH GOLD MEDAL Havana, June 7 (RHC)-- The World Organization of Intellectual Property awarded Cuba the Gold Medal for an important scientific investigation -- the third time such an award has been given to the island. On this occasion, the award went to the renowned Cuban Doctor Nilo Casteneda from the Center of Bioactive Chemicals located at Las Villas University who, together with a group of scientists, developed an antibiotic capable of combating different bacteria, including fungi in animals and plants. The antibiotic will be tested on humans early next year. The General Director of the World Organization of Intellectual Property, Kamil Indris, presented the important distinction in Havana and also gave diplomas of recognition to recognized inventors and innovators for their contribution to human knowledge. *MORE CUBAN STUDENTS REGISTER FOR HEALTH CAREERS Havana, June 7 (RHC)-- Over 4000 Cuban health professionals will register in medical institutions and colleges in Cuba this year, of which nearly 2000 will go directly to medical school, according to Wednesday's Granma newspaper. The newspaper article added that there are currently 74,863 doctors in Cuba -- one for every 172 inhabitants. This year's graduates -- characterized as the best in recent years -- will serve as dentists, nurses and health technicians as well as doctors. The director of the Cuban Medical School, Dr. Ileana Morales, told Granma newspaper that the best students will continue to be placed in areas of the island where they are most needed. *CUBA SIGNS COOPERATION PROGRAM WITH TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO Havana, June 7 (RHC)-- Cuba and Trinidad and Tobago have agreed on a cooperation program in the fields of agriculture, health, education, science, technology and the environment. The agreement was made during the first Bilateral Joint Commission, which was held in the Cuban capital. The program also includes agreements in culture, sports, energy and construction, in addition to increasing trade between both Caribbean countries. Viewpoint: IT'S BUSINESS AS USUAL DURING ANOTHER ELECTION YEAR IN THE UNITED STATES With the U.S. presidential campaign in full swing, millions of dollars are changing hands in record time. With thousand-dollar-a-plate dinners and generous contributions by big business, the trick is that the money manages to stay in the same hands. These massive amounts of money benefit only the candidates of one or the other party running for president of the richest country in the world. Meanwhile, Washington spends huge amounts of money to implement a foreign policy based on hatching conspiracies, toppling and setting up governments, economically-pressuring and financially-rewarding politicians and launching propaganda campaigns. The United States is the country that is in the best position to help the world's poorest people. Take the case of more than 13 million people who are on the verge of dying from hunger in the Horn of Africa due to the devastating effects a terrible draught -- the worst in 40 years. The people of Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, Eritrea and Djibouti are in dire need of emergency assistance, which can best be provided by the world's richest nation. Urgent assistance from abroad is the only way to avoid a new wave of death. Some 400 million dollars or nearly a million tons of food is needed this year alone. In cases of disasters of this magnitude, one automatically thinks of the highly developed nations which are most able and most morally obligated to lend a hand. Cuba -- a small, underdeveloped nation which has its own economic problems due to the U.S. blockade against the island -- offers all it can in the form of human resources. The Cuban Revolution assists other peoples around the world to resolve urgent problems like lack of medical care and education. And although Cuba lacks the economic resources to help out its brothers and sisters in northeastern Africa, it joins the international call for the industrialized countries to take action immediately -- while there is still time to prevent millions of human beings from starving to death on the African Continent. (c) 2000 Radio Habana Cuba, NY Transfer News. 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