Radio Havana Cuba-9 May 2000 Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 9 May 2000 -CRIMINAL U.S. CUBAN ADJUSTMENT ACT EXAMINED DURING TELEVISED ROUNDTABLE -U.S. SOLIDARITY ACTIVISTS PLAN DEMONSTRATIONS FOR ELIAN'S RETURN HOME -PRESIDENT OF THE CANARY ISLANDS BEGINS OFFICIAL VISIT TO CUBA -21st TOURISM CONVENTION UNDERWAY IN HAVANA -UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES VISITS CUBA -PINAR DEL RIO DEFEATS HAVANA INDUSTRIALES, 4 TO 3, IN TIGHT GAME CRIMINAL U.S. CUBAN ADJUSTMENT ACT EXAMINED DURING TELEVISED ROUNDTABLE Havana, May 9 (RHC)-- A roundtable discussion to analyze the Cuban Adjustment Act was broadcast live on radio and television Tuesday evening, with the participation of journalists and experts in immigration law. One of the panelists, Miguel Alvares, an advisor to the Cuban Parliament, recalled that U.S. administrations have long used immigration in their attempts to destabilize and destroy the Cuban Revolution. Alvares stated that Washington first gave refuge to torturers and murderers of the Batista dictatorship and then later took in 14,000 Cuban children in what was called Operation Peter Pan. Journalists taking part in the roundtable discussion pointed out that the Cuban Adjustment Act, passed by Congress 34 years ago, in 1966, serves to encourage illegal departures by offering special treatment to Cuban immigrants who reach the United States. The U.S. legislation allows Cubans to receive work permits or "green cards" as soon as they reach U.S. soil and permanent residency only one year after arriving in the United States. During Tuesday evening's program, several special reports were aired of interviews with recent "rafters" who failed in their attempt to reach the U.S. and returned to Cuba. One case involved 15 men and five women who tried to take a poorly-constructed boat to Florida and nearly drowned in the attempt. They told viewers that they wanted to leave Cuba for economic reasons, attracted by the lure of material goods in the world's richest nation. Many of those interviewed on camera fought back tears as they recounted their dangerous attempt to cross the Florida Straits. One woman recalled how their small craft nearly sank and those on board had to bail water in order to stay afloat. The roundtable discussion analyzing the Cuban Adjustment Act and its criminal use to promote illegal immigration was broadcast on Cuban television, the national radio network and the international frequencies of Radio Havana Cuba. U.S. SOLIDARITY ACTIVISTS PLAN DEMONSTRATIONS FOR ELIAN'S RETURN HOME San Francisco, May 9 (RHC)-- As the Atlanta appeals court prepares for hearings in the Elian Gonzalez case, Cuba solidarity activists in the United States are gearing up for demonstrations to support the right of the six-year-old boy to return home to the island. A number of organizations, including Peace for Cuba Appeal and the International Action Center are planning a demonstration Wednesday afternoon in front of the Federal Building in Los Angeles, California. According to organizers of the action, they have no confidence that the court will do the right thing by rejecting all claims by the right-wing lawyers representing Elian's distant relatives in Miami. The National Committee for the Return of Elian Gonzalez to Cuba is also calling demonstrations in several cities, including San Francisco, for Thursday, May 11th -- the day that oral arguments will begin in Atlanta. Thus far, the three federal judges assigned to the case have refused to recognize Elian's father, Juan Miguel, as the child's sole, legal representative -- and have left the door open to the possibility that the six-year-old boy can be eligible for political asylum. PRESIDENT OF THE CANARY ISLANDS BEGINS OFFICIAL VISIT TO CUBA Havana, May 9 (RHC)-- The President of the Canary Islands, Roman Rodriguez, has arrived in Havana to begin an official visit to Cuba, heading a delegation of government officials and business executives. During his stay on the island, Rodriguez is scheduled to meet with Cuban Vice Presidents Carlos Lage and Jose Ramon Fernandez, Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque and other government official. Roman Rodriguez will also meet with descendents from the Canary Islands in Cuba -- the largest community of Spanish descendants on the island. 21st TOURISM CONVENTION UNDERWAY IN HAVANA Havana, May 9 (RHC)-- The 21st edition of the Tourism Convention "Cuba 2000" was officially inaugurated on Monday evening with a cultural gala at Havana's National Theater. The opening address was delivered by the Minister of Tourism, Ibrahim Ferradaz. On Tuesday morning, just minutes before the formal opening of the trade fair at Havana's Pabexpo Exhibition Hall, the president of the organizing committee, Mirabal Riquene, offered a news conference to give out more details about this year's event. More than 500 representatives from 42 countries are taking part in this tourism convention and, for the first time in 21 years, the five continents are represented. This year's trade fair has an exhibition area of 3500 square meters, where national and international companies will exhibit their products at more than 100 stands. The event's agenda also includes conferences on the development and perspectives of tourism in Cuba and Spain. Participants will visit important tourism resorts like Santiago de Cuba, Holguin and Santiago de Cuba. UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES VISITS CUBA Havana, May 9 (RHC)-- The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Sadakko Ogata, is on a three-day official visit to Cuba at the invitation of the Cuban government. The visit corresponds with the good working relations between Cuba and this UN agency. The UN official will meet with high-ranking Cuban officials, visit places of socio-cultural interest and will deliver a lecture at the University of Havana. PINAR DEL RIO DEFEATS HAVANA INDUSTRIALES, 4 TO 3, IN TIGHT GAME Pinar del Rio, May 9 (RHC)-- Pinar del Rio defeated the Havana Industriales last night 4 to 3 -- in what many said was one of the most exciting games so far in this year's playoffs. With this victory, Pinar del Rio tied the series three games each. During last night's nail-biter, both teams gave it their best, but Pinar del Rio's starting pitcher, Jose Ariel Contreras, and the game's relief pitcher, Pedro Luis Lazo, were too much for the Industriales offensive. Both teams will face off for the seventh game on Wednesday in Pinar del Rio. The winner of tomorrow's game will take on the defending national champions, Santiago de Cuba, Saturday night. (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-9111 2000-May-10 01:45:35