Radio Havana Cuba-9 June 2000 20:45 Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 9 June 2000 20:30 *STORM POSTPONES CHILDREN'S MARCH TO US INTERESTS SECTION IN HAVANA *CONGRESSIONAL EFFORTS FOR FOOD AND MEDICINE SALE A SMALL BUT IMPORTANT STEP *CUBAN FOREIGN MINISTRY DENIES POLITICAL PERSECUTION OF CUBAN DOCTORS IN ZIMBABWE *PRIME MINISTER OF BELIZE RECEIVES FOREIGN MINISTER FELIPE PEREZ ROQUE *TURKISH DELEGATION WRAPS UP VISIT TO CUBA *CUBA WORKS TO IMPROVE TELECOMMUNICATIONS ON THE ISLAND *NIGERIAN MINISTER OF HEALTH AND POPULATION VISITS CUBA *POPULAR CUBAN ORCHESTRA ARRIVES IN THE UNITED STATES *2nd MEETING OF IBERO-AMERICAN AND EUROPEAN MAYORS SLATED FOR CUBA *STORM POSTPONES CHILDREN'S MARCH TO US INTERESTS SECTION IN HAVANA Havana, June 9 (RHC)-- Weather conditions today forced the postponement of a 150,000 children's march in front of the U.S. Interests Section in Havana to demand the immediate return of Elian Gonzalez. An abrupt change in the weather Friday morning increased the chances of rain by 80 percent. As a result, organizers postponed the march until Monday morning, so as to not place at risk the health and security of the elementary, junior high and high school students who had already begun to mobilize for the march and rally. On Saturday, some 100,000 Cubans are expected to gather in Santiago de Cuba's Palma Soriano and surrounding municipalities to continue the demand to bring Elian and his family home. Palma Soriano is replete with the history of Cuba's independence wars and is the site where, on January 1st 1959, Fidel Castro called on the Cuban people to organize a general strike as the rebel army was about to victoriously march into Havana. *CONGRESSIONAL EFFORTS FOR FOOD AND MEDICINE SALE A SMALL BUT IMPORTANT STEP TOWARD ENDING THE BLOCKADE Havana, June 9 (RHC) -- Cuban President Fidel Castro has asserted that U.S. congressional efforts to lift restrictions on the sale of food and medicine to Cuba would be a small but important step towards ending the blockade. The statement came at Havana's International Convention Center, where the 4th U.S.-Cuba Business Summit continued after getting underway in Cancun, Mexico on Wednesday. Participating in another event at the Convention Center, the Cuban leader spoke with reporters and journalists during a break. He insisted that even if these restrictions are lifted, numerous other provisions in Washington's blockade would effectively prevent the sale of food and medicine to Cuba -- including transportation and financial transaction restrictions. Fidel Castro said that what is necessary is the total lifting of the blockade. Some 70 representatives from more than 40 U.S. firms are taking part in the event, slated to wrap up here in Havana on Saturday. Among the U.S. businesses represented at the Summit are: Pepsi Cola, United Airlines, Caterpillar and Shandwick International. *CUBAN FOREIGN MINISTRY DENIES POLITICAL PERSECUTION OF CUBAN DOCTORS IN ZIMBABWE Havana, June 9 (RHC)-- Cuba's Foreign Ministry has categorically denied that two Cuban doctors in Zimbabwe attempting to defect have been subjected to political persecution, or will be at risk if they decide to return to the island. An official note read before foreign and national correspondents by alternate Foreign Ministry spokesperson Aymee Hernandez, confirms that Doctors Leonel Cordova and Noris Pena abandoned the medical cooperation mission they were a part of in Zimbabwe and that "despite their shameful moral attitude, they have not committed any crime." The official note explains that both health professionals failed to comply with the commitments they assumed in the contract between the governments of Cuba and Zimbabwe, as well as the labor and migratory regulations in the African country, asserting that it is therefore up to Zimbabwean authorities to adopt the decisions they consider pertinent. In response to questions from reporters, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson denied that Cuban diplomats were involved in the alleged kidnapping of the doctors -- as reported by several media outlets based on a story published by the Nuevo Herald of Miami. Hernandez stated that neither Cuban nor Foreign Ministry officials are authorized to forcibly take citizens from one country to another, stating that the island's diplomats are obligated to comply with international conventions and with national laws in the countries to which they are accredited. *PRIME MINISTER OF BELIZE RECEIVES FOREIGN MINISTER FELIPE PEREZ ROQUE Belmopan, June 9 (RHC)-- The Prime Minister of Belize, Said Musa, today received visiting Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque. The Cuban foreign minister told reporters in the Belicean capital that bilateral relations between the two countries have received a tremendous boost during the Musa administration. Perez Roque also visited the University of Belize, accompanied by Belicean Education Minister Cordel Hyde. The education minister thanked Cuba for its cooperation. Forty Belicean youths have graduated from Cuban universities, while nearly 100 are currently studying on the island -- of which 17 are enrolled in Havana's Latin American Medical School. Cuba and Belize established diplomatic relations in July 1995 and currently have 28 bilateral cooperation accords in various areas -- particularly in health care. *TURKISH DELEGATION WRAPS UP VISIT TO CUBA Havana, June 9 (RHC)-- The Third Session of the Joint Commission for Economic, Industrial and Commercial Cooperation Between Cuba and Turkey concluded this Friday with the signing of an agreement. The event was attended by an official delegation from Turkey, headed by Turkish Prime Minister Rustu Kazin Yucelen. The delegation arrived in Havana last Sunday to cover an intense program of meetings and negotiations, as well as visits to social and economic places of interest. The visitors met with Cuban officials to discuss bilateral relations between the two nations as well as future prospects. *CUBA WORKS TO IMPROVE TELECOMMUNICATIONS ON THE ISLAND Havana, June 9 (RHC)-- The Cuban Minister of Informatics and Telecommunications, Ignacio Gonzalez Planas, has affirmed that Cuba is working to improve the island's communication systems. Gonzalez Planas said that the ministry maintains positive relations with Italian experts who work in Cuba's Telecommunication Enterprise -- ETECSA. He added that ETECSA's investments alone surpass one hundred million dollars, over 80 percent of the budget, earmarked for this area. ETECSA is a joint venture that operates telephone communications with CUBACEL, a Mexican-Canadian joint entity that deals with cellular telephone communications. The Cuban minister added that there are two main economic associations on the island involved in the production of telephone equipment and both are associated with firms from Italy and China. *NIGERIAN MINISTER OF HEALTH AND POPULATION VISITS CUBA Havana, June 9 (RHC)-- Algeria's Minister of Health and Population, Amara Benyunes, will arrive in Cuba on Saturday, June 10th, for an official visit at the invitation of the island's health minister, Dr. Carlos Dotres. The Algerian official will be heading a large delegation, made up of experts in areas such as the production of medicines, pharmaceuticals and blood derivatives. During the two-day visit, the Algerian specialists will meet with their Cuban counterparts and tour centers of interest. *POPULAR CUBAN ORCHESTRA ARRIVES IN THE UNITED STATES New York, June 9 (RHC)-- The Aragon Orchestra has arrived in the United States as a special envoy of Cuba's traditional and popular music. The world famous Cuban musical group, considered the king of the cha-cha-cha rhythm, is scheduled to perform in seven U.S. cities. Following their concert presentations in the United States, the Aragon Orchestra will continue on to Canada. The Aragon Orchestra, with six decades of successful musical work, has been termed by experts as the best representative of cha-cha-cha, a dance rhythm created by late Cuban musician Enrique Jorrin in the early 1950s. *2nd MEETING OF IBERO-AMERICAN AND EUROPEAN MAYORS SLATED FOR CUBA Santiago de Cuba, June 9 (RHC)-- The eastern city of Santiago de Cuba will be the host of the 2nd Encounter of Mayors from Ibero-America and Europe. The event will coincide with the Caribbean Festival, better known as the Festival of Fire, scheduled for next July 3rd through the 9th in Santiago de Cuba. Authorities from 13 nations have already confirmed their participation in the event. The Mayor of Santiago de Cuba, Nicholas Carbonell Igarza, pointed out that participants will discuss issues of common interest, as well as exchange views and experiences. This year's edition of the Festival of Fire will be officially opened on July 4th and is dedicated to Africa. (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-29534 2000-Jun-09 21:45:39