Radio Havana Cuba-13 October 2000 (delayed) Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 13 October 2000 (transmission of the English report from Havana was delayed) . *CUBAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SIGNS COOPERATION AGREEMENT WITH RUSSIAN URALS *15th CONGRESS OF INT'L DEMOCRATIC JURISTS' ASSOCIATION BEGINS MONDAY *LOCAL RESIDENTS PAY TRIBUTE TO CUBAN HIGH JUMP STAR JAVIER SOTOMAYOR *CUBAN CHILDREN HELP PREPARE FOR CONGRESS OF JOSE MARTI PIONEER ORGANIZATION *GROWING TOURISM PROMPTS CUBANA AIRLINES TO ADD A FLIGHT TO MEXICO *Viewpoint: REGIONAL INTEGRATION AND COOPERATION: THE ONLY SOLUTION . *CUBAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SIGNS COOPERATION AGREEMENT WITH RUSSIAN URALS Havana, October 13 (RHC)-- A cooperation accord, promoting the development of commercial and economic ties, was signed by Luis Carricarte Corona, President of Cuba's Chamber of Commerce, and his counterpart from the Russian Urals, Yuri Petrovich Matushkin. Matushkin is currently in Havana, leading a delegation of business executives made up of representatives from 18 economic sectors. *15th CONGRESS OF INT'L DEMOCRATIC JURISTS' ASSOCIATION BEGINS MONDAY Havana, October 13 (RHC)-- The 15th Congress of the International Association of Democratic Jurists will be held in the Cuban capital from Monday, October 16th, through Friday, the 20th. Over 600 Cuban and foreign personalities from the Americas, Europe and Asia will gather at Havana's International Convention Center to address issues relating to human rights, the democratization of the United Nations, neo-liberalism and globalization. The Congress is held every four or five years. This year's event coincides with the holding of local meetings on the same theme, including the 4th Cuban Encounter of Jurists from the island's Armed Forces and Interior Ministries and the 4th National Annual Law Contest and Seminar. *LOCAL RESIDENTS PAY TRIBUTE TO CUBAN HIGH JUMP STAR JAVIER SOTOMAYOR Mantanzas, October 13 (RHC)-- Residents from the central city of Limonar, located in Matanzas province, paid tribute to Cuban high jump star Javier Sotomayor for his achievement in winning a silver medal during the Sydney Olympic Games. For Sotomayor, who is celebrating his 33rd birthday on Friday, the silver medal was very important due to the fact that he suffered psychological pressure because of unjust doping accusations during the Winnepeg Pan-American Games last year. He was also barred from participating in several international events before the Sydney Olympics. Javier Sotomayor has been selected the best Cuban Athlete of the Century. *CUBAN CHILDREN HELP PREPARE FOR CONGRESS OF JOSE MARTI PIONEER ORGANIZATION Havana, October 13 (RHC)-- The main preparatory meeting of the 3rd Congress of the Jose Marti Pioneer Children's Organization was held on Friday in Havana. The President of the Jose Marti Children's Organization, Miriam Yanet, read a statement entitled "To Conquer the Future," calling for all the pioneers to participate in the island's on going struggle to preserve its sovereignty and independence. During the congress, each child cast a secret ballot to elect their classroom representatives. *GROWING TOURISM PROMPTS CUBANA AIRLINES TO ADD A FLIGHT TO MEXICO Mexico City, October 13 (RHC)-- Cubana Airlines will add another flight to its Havana-Mexico-Havana itinerary in December, according to the airline's sales director, Barbara Berrios. The airline presently operates five flights-a-week to Mexico City. Barrios told Prensa Latina News Agency that the new flight is in response to increasing numbers of tourists traveling to the island. She also pointed out that Cubana Airlines will continue its tourist packages and the special offer of free flights for children travelling with their parents. Cubana Airlines also has a daily Havana-Cancun-Havana flight. Viewpoint: *REGIONAL INTEGRATION AND COOPERATION - THE ONLY SOLUTION The countries of Latin America end this century with many of their problems intact and without a solution in sight. Part of the problem has been the interference of more powerful nations with their so-called solutions of the problems that face the poorer nations of Latin America. These solutions are seldom in the interest of the country in need but instead foster dependency and favor today's world economy. If this tendency continues, the countries of Latin America will lose their sovereignty and end up as satellite nations subordinated by powerful forces. A valid alternative would be for the countries of Latin America to develop an integrated and unified approach to their own problems and in particular to offer support and solidarity to the countries in the area that have remained in a backward condition, some as backward as fifty years. A case in point is the Dominican Republic, which United Nations' statistics list as the seventh poorest nation in the world. Studies point out that 32 percent of Dominicans live in poverty and 13 percent are destitute. A third of the population lacks running water and ine-fifth have no access to healthcare. A new administration has recently been inauguated in Santo Domingo. This government has pledged to tackle the problems and radically change the situation. But little can be achieved in an acceptable period of time without solidarity and assistence and a change in the forces that have traditionally dominated the economy. The Dominican Republic, Haiti and other poor countries of Latin America, where the people live in the worst conditions, need the support of their neighbours to improve their conditions. It is not necessary to have a powerful economy to give this international solidarity, as has been demonstrated by Cuba. However, the long-term solution to sustained development -- which is also in the interest of the country in need -- is a regionally integrated and cooperative approach between the peoples of the South. This alternative method is the only way to keep ourselves free from imperialist domination. (c) 2000 Radio Habana Cuba, NY Transfer News. 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