Radio Havana Cuba-15 May 2000 Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 15 May 2000 -CUBAN PRESIDENT MEETS WITH HIS COUNTERPART FROM THE CANARY ISLANDS -11th NATIONAL SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE ON ORTHOPEDICS HELD IN CIENFUEGOS -9th CONGRESS OF CUBAN SMALL FARMERS UNDERWAY IN HAVANA -HOUSING PROGRAM UNDERWAY IN EASTERN GUANTANAMO PROVINCE -HAVANA'S 10th INTERNATIONAL GUITAR FESTIVAL AND COMPETITION UNDERWAY -CUBAN SPORTS MOVEMENT UNDER ATTACK, BUT DEFENDED BY AN ENTIRE PEOPLE -Viewpoint: CUBA'S FARMERS PLAY IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE ISLAND'S FUTURE CUBAN PRESIDENT MEETS WITH HIS COUNTERPART FROM THE CANARY ISLANDS Havana, May 15 (RHC)-- The visiting President of the Canary Islands, Roman Rodriguez, expressed his pleasure at meeting Cuban President Fidel Castro, calling this weekend's encounter "very interesting." Both leaders reviewed the current state of bilateral relations and exchanged views on various issues. During a news conference Sunday evening with national and international journalists, the president of the Spanish autonomous region stated that conditions exist for expanded and strengthened bilateral relations with the Caribbean island. The Spanish dignitary pointed to the historical ties of friendship and solidarity that exist between the two peoples. Asked by reporters about the case of six-year-old Elian Gonzalez, who is still being illegally held in the United States against his father's wishes, the president of the Canary Islands came out strongly in favor of returning the boy to Cuba. He noted that international law clearly stipulates that the boy belongs with his father and immediate family. 11th NATIONAL SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE ON ORTHOPEDICS HELD IN CIENFUEGOS Cienfuegos, May 15 (RHC)-- Renowned Cuban orthopedists along with foreign experts participated in the 11th National Conference on Orthopedics, which wrapped up over the weekend in central Cienfuegos province. Cuba's achievements in the field were demonstrated during the five-day event, especially regarding the application of minor surgery. Rodrigo Alvares Cambra, a well-known Cuban orthopedist, offered a lecture on the general principles and possible complications of the technique, as well as its specific use to treat different bone diseases. The island's advances in orthopedics has been internationally recognized, particularly regarding the treatment of athletes. The National Scientific Conference on Orthopedics also included a roundtable on the treatment of hip fractures, considered a challenge for the new millennium. 9th CONGRESS OF CUBAN SMALL FARMERS UNDERWAY IN HAVANA Havana, May 15 (RHC)-- The 9th Congress of Cuba's National Association of Small Farmers (ANAP) got underway on Monday at Havana's International Convention Center with the participation of some 800 delegates, representing agricultural cooperatives throughout Cuba. Participants at the congress are discussing issues of crucial importance for small farmers -- particularly economic efficiency and the need to increase production levels. The strengthening of relations between ANAP and the island's Ministries of Sugar and Agriculture -- especially in terms of joining efforts to boost national production of agricultural products -- is also a priority on the event's agenda. On Monday, delegates gathered in working commissions to focus on the association's local structure and organizational operations, the need to improve farmer's participation in decision-making policies and attention to independent farmers and cooperatives. ANAP President Orlando Lugo Fonte stressed the need to reach objective agreements that have a direct impact on the life of the organization. The Association of Small Cuban Farmers is made up of more than 200,000 members grouped in more than 1100 agricultural cooperatives. There are also some 3400 independent farmers who contribute 50 percent of all the vegetables and grain production sold by the organization. ANAP is also responsible for 42 percent of the nation's total livestock potential and 84 percent of Cuba's tobacco production. HOUSING PROGRAM UNDERWAY IN EASTERN GUANTANAMO PROVINCE Guantánamo, May 15 (RHC)-- Some 150 new homes have already been built so far this year in eastern Guantánamo province as part of a program to construct 1000 homes in southern municipalities of that Cuban province. The program is aimed at improving the living conditions of residents and will be extended to other rural areas. The government provides construction materials, while those who will move into the new houses provide labor and local resources. The program also includes repairs to some 10,000 houses and the paving of dirt roads in urban as well as rural areas. HAVANA'S 10th INTERNATIONAL GUITAR FESTIVAL AND COMPETITION GETS UNDERWAY Havana, May 15 (RHC)-- The 10th Havana International Guitar Festival and Competition got underway over the weekend in the Cuban capital. Sixteen national and international participants are taking part in the event, as well as guests from Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Spain, Finland, Japan, Mexico, France, Greece, Holland, Italy and Uruguay. Considered one of the world's most prestigious musical festivals, Havana's 10th International Guitar Festival and Competition is organized by Cuba's Music Institute in cooperation with the General Society of Authors and Editors and the Author Foundation. For eight days, Havana residents have a unique opportunity to enjoy a packed program of musical activities that include concerts, recitals, conferences, lectures, workshops and exhibitions -- all of them related to the world famous musical instrument: the guitar. The event's opening session on Saturday included the inauguration of an art exhibit entitled "The Guitar" by renowned painter Leonel Lopez-Nussa and a gala concert by Australian classical guitarist John Williams. CUBAN SPORTS MOVEMENT COMES UNDER ATTACK, BUT IS DEFENDED BY AN ENTIRE PEOPLE Havana, May 15 (RHC)-- The President of the Cuban Sports Institute, Humberto Rodriguez, has once again reiterated Cuba's position in defense of its athletes and the island's sports movement in general. Published in this morning's edition of Granma newspaper, an open letter written by Rodriguez is in response to one from Loring Baker, General Secretary of the International Amateur Boxing Association. Baker's letter is highly-critical of Cuba, suggesting that other sanctions could possibly be leveled against the island's sports officials. Humberto Rodriguez maintains his criticism for the biased work conducted by the Association's legal commission and especially its president, Ricardo Contreras. Contreras, far from leading an investigation into Cuba's claims and protests following the Houston tournament, actually began to accuse Cuba. Rodriguez pointed out that the whole issue could have been avoided if the Association and the Commission would have worked on it following the principles of the Olympic movement and by implementing the many proposals suggested by Cuban specialists as a way to improve the work of the international association. About a week ago, the executive committee of the International Amateur Boxing Association sanctioned three Cuban boxing officials for having withdrawn from the Houston world tournament last year, after protesting a series of irregular procedures on the part of a group of referees and arbiters. Five Cuban boxers were affected by those irregularities. At the time, Cuba registered its protest and released a well-documented report on the negative conduct of some judges and referees that have affected the world of amateur boxing over the past 12 years. Cuba is not the only country that has complained about what is going on inside the Association throughout these years, but it has been severely punished for exposing those irregularities. Viewpoint: CUBA'S FARMERS PLAY IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE ISLAND'S FUTURE The 9th Congress of the Association of Small Farmers -- ANAP -- is underway in Havana. The organization groups private farmers who own the land they work. The event was preceded by meetings islandwide, gathering over 200,000 members of the organization who discussed ways to boost agricultural production. ANAP members are responsible for 90 percent of tobacco production, 42.4 percent of cattle production and grow 60 percent of the island's vegetables. Members of ANAP today make up hundreds of cattle raising and agricultural cooperatives, as well as credits and services cooperatives. According to ANAP officials, they are fully aware of their responsibility to contributing to feeding the Cuban people. At the center of the ANAP's 9th Congress is how to improve economic efficiency of the cooperatives and how to implement initiatives that will help circumvent objective shortages of supplies, with fuel ranking first on the list. Although more than 100 cooperatives and 3000 individual farmers significantly improved their productive performance last year, with 52 percent of the island's production of vegetables, the sector is far from fully reaching its capacity. Small private farmers in Cuba, whether as part of cooperatives or as individual producers, should work hard to achieve efficiency, put an end to cattle rustling and the misuse of resources, as well as improve the marketing of their produce, through better ties with state marketing enterprises. Despite the steady economic growth reported on the island over the past six years, Cuban consumers complain about the high prices of produce at farmer's markets, where prices are set by supply and demand. Consumers insist that if cooperative and state production increased, prices would be more reasonable. Although basic staples are guaranteed by the state through the ration card at subsidized prices, they are still insufficient to cover people's needs -- hence the importance of seeing a drop of prices in farmer's markets. The Association of Small Farmers is expected to play an important role in making sure that happens. Farmers are very much aware that Cuba's difficult economic situation makes the island dependant on agriculture in order to satisfy its people's food needs. This is why debates at the 9th Congress of the Association of Small Farmers, which runs through Wednesday, will be closely watched -- not only by its own members but also by Cubans from all walks of life. (c) 2000 Radio Habana Cuba. 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-28343 2000-May-16 05:00:40