Radio Havana Cuba-07 November 2000 Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 07 November 2000 . *MEXICO-CUBA RELATIONS WILL CONTINUE TO BE RESPECTFUL AND FRIENDLY: FOX *REGIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON ANALYTIC, ENVIRONMENTAL AND SANITARY CHEMISTRY *STATUE HONORING MEXICAN PATRIOT BENITO JUAREZ UNVEILED IN HAVANA *INTERNATIONAL PERSONALITIES EXPECTED AT WORLD SOLIDARITY MEETING *SOUTH AFRICAN LABOR CONFEDERATION VISITS CUBA *NORWAY'S SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS ARRIVES IN HAVANA *US AND CUBAN HEMINGWAY SCHOLARS EXCHANGE VIEWS IN CUBA *HAVANA FILM FESTIVAL PREPARES FOR DECEMBER OPENING *UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO DEBATE ANTI-BLOCKADE RESOLUTION . *MEXICO-CUBA RELATIONS WILL CONTINUE TO BE RESPECTFUL AND FRIENDLY: FOX Mexico City, November 7 (RHC)-- Mexican President-elect Vicente Fox has asserted that Mexico-Cuba relations will continue to be respectful and friendly during his administration. The affirmation came late Monday during a brief gathering with Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque, who stopped over in Mexico City en route to United Nations headquarters in New York. Adolfo Aguilar, coordinator of International Affairs of Fox's transition team, denied that there has been a deterioration of Mexico-Cuba ties since the recent presidential elections. Aguilar, who was present at the gathering between Fox and Perez Roque, said Fox expressed a desire to develop even closer economic cooperation ties and spoke of the possibility of launching joint development projects. Aguilar also denied that Fox has invited so-called Cuban dissidents to his swearing-in ceremony, as some media outlets reported in recent days. He said Fidel Castro would be the only Cuban citizen invited to the ceremony. *REGIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON ANALYTIC, ENVIRONMENTAL AND SANITARY CHEMISTRY Havana, November 7 (RHC)-- As part of the 5th Central American and Caribbean Symposium on Analytic, Environmental and Sanitary Chemistry which is meeting in Havana, researchers from 17 countries gathered on Monday to analyze issues related to chemical pollution and its effects on health. The objective of the event is to unite scientists and professionals linked to environmental chemistry. Delegates will discuss issues like the quality of air, water and soil as well as contamination. The symposium, which runs through Friday, is a response to the growing environmental problems voiced by world public opinion. *STATUE HONORING MEXICAN PATRIOT BENITO JUAREZ UNVEILED IN HAVANA Havana, November 7 (RHC)-- Cuban President Fidel Castro was present on Monday, at the unveiling ceremony of a statue of Mexican patriot, Benito Juarez, in Havana's Vedado municipality. The statue was placed on Havana's Avenue of the Presidents, where other famous Latin American leaders have been paid tribute to with statues or busts, including likenesses of Venezuelan independence leader, Simon Bolivar and slain Chilean President Salvador Allende. Meanwhile, President Fidel Castro met with a Mexican parliamentary delegation from the Institutional Revolutionary Party. The delegation is here in Havana to discuss issues related to both countries. Senator Enrique Jackson, who is heading the Mexican delegation, characterized the visit to Cuba as important and praised Cuban President Fidel Castro for his capacity to keep open the channels of communication. *INTERNATIONAL PERSONALITIES EXPECTED AT WORLD SOLIDARITY MEETING Havana, November 7 (RHC)-- More than 50 renowned personalities from around the world will be participating in the 2nd World Solidarity Meeting, which begins in Havana on Friday. The Cuban Friendship Institute, ICAP, announced that among some of the important figures who will attend the gathering will be Brazilian theologist, Frei Betto; the Director of the U.S. Inter-religious Foundation for Community Organization and Pastor's for Peace, the Reverend Lucius Walker; and former Ecuadorian President, Leon Roldos. The program includes speeches by the president of the Cuban Parliament, Ricardo Alarcon, Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque, Vice President Carlos Lage and the Director of the Jose Marti Center, Armando Hart. Delegates will debate issues in working commissions on Monday, including the current situation of Washington's blockade against Cuba, information and misinformation about the island and an exchange of experiences among the delegates. *SOUTH AFRICAN LABOR CONFEDERATION VISITS CUBA Havana, November 7 (RHC)-- A delegation from the South African Labor Confederation arrived on Monday in Havana to exchange experiences with Cuba's Workers Confederation, CTC. The South African delegation, which is headed by its President Willi Madinsha, met with their Cuban counterparts and will participate in the 2nd World Solidarity Meeting, which gets underway on Friday. *NORWAY'S SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS ARRIVES IN HAVANA Havana, November 7 (RHC)-- Norway's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Raymond Johansen, met with Cuban Parliament President Ricardo Alarcon on Tuesday in Havana. On the final day of his visit to the island, the high-ranking Norwegian official toured Havana's Biotechnology Center and was scheduled to participate in a round table entitled "Energy and the Sugar Industry." Johansen also visited Cuba's Foreign Ministry, where he met with Deputy Foreign Minister Angel Dalmau. The two officials discussed bilateral issues. *US AND CUBAN HEMINGWAY SCHOLARS EXCHANGE VIEWS IN CUBA Havana, November 7 (RHC)-- Some 50 U.S. experts on the work of writer and journalist Ernest Hemingway began academic meetings with their Cuban counterparts on Tuesday in Havana. The President of the Hemingway Foundation of Oak Park, Chicago, Scott Schwar, is heading the group of experts who will remain on the island until November 15th. During their visit to Cuba, the U.S. intellectuals will tour places of interest related to the work of Ernest Hemingway. *HAVANA FILM FESTIVAL PREPARES FOR DECEMBER OPENING Havana, November 7 (RHC)-- Some 240 films from 15 countries are competing for Coral prizes presented by the International Festival of New Latin American Film to be held in Havana from December 5- 15. The 22nd Havana Film Festival will screen movies from morning until night in 20 movie theaters around the capital. The prestigious event also features a film poster exhibit, seminars and a special showing of movies produced by Hispanics living in the United States. The International Festival of New Latin Film is known for the many moviemakers who participate, including directors, producers, actors and critics. It is also famous for the thousands of enthusiastic Cuban movies lovers who crowd into all the showings from early in the morning until late into the night, to watch Cuban, Latin American, American independent productions and movies from France, Spain, Italy, Canada and other countries. *UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO DEBATE ANTI-BLOCKADE RESOLUTION Following the latest maneuver in the U.S. Congress to simulate an easing of the economic war against Cuba, the island has become the only country in the entire world still subjected to a cruel economic blockade. The fact is that such a punitive measure against a poor, Third World nation -- which is only protecting its sovereignty and legitimate right to self-determination -- has never had the support of the international community represented in the UN General Assembly. On the contrary, for eight consecutive years the highest UN body has completely rejected the blockade. Each year, an ever-growing number of nations votes against Washington's economic blockade and issues a call for the United States to end its illegal policy. Washington is increasingly isolated in its anti-Cuba policy, something that had never happened before in the history of the foreign policy of the world's only superpower. Last year, the Cuban resolution was approved with 157 votes out of then 180 UN member nations. No question about it: Had the vote been favorable for the United States and against Cuba, Washington would have taken all conceivable measures to enforce the UN resolution, even the use of force, which has become a permanent tool of the U.S. empire to impose its hegemonic dictates. Even without requesting UN approval, Washington recently carried out its military aggression against Yugoslavia. The only support that Washington has been able to gain has been that of one or two of its unconditional allies, such as Israel. Other traditional U.S. allies had previously abstained from voting on the Cuban resolution, in order to avoid becoming an accomplice of the White House in such a mistaken foreign policy. This week, the United Nations General Assembly will once again discuss and vote on a Cuban resolution against the U.S. blockade, the results of which should be similar to those of previous years. Once again, the international community will condemn the blockade and demonstrate an ever-growing support for the people of 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-6055 2000-Nov-08 02:22:18