Radio Havana Cuba-25 October 2000 Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 25 October 2000 . *PASTORS FOR PEACE FRIENDSHIPMENT CARAVAN ON THE ROAD *VICE PRESIDENT LAGE MEETS WITH ANC DELEGATION *CUBA AND HAITI SIGN IMPORTANT BILATERAL ACCORDS *JAZZ ENTHUSIASTS READY FOR JAZZ FESTIVAL 2000 *WASHINGTON DC MAYOR SENDS GREETINGS TO HAVANA WITH BALLET COMPANY *INTERNATIONAL ATHEROSCLEROSIS CONFERENCE UNDERWAY IN HAVANA *SOUTH AFRICAN VICE PRESIDENT IN CUBA *HAVANA PREPARES FOR INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR . *PASTORS FOR PEACE FRIENDSHIPMENT CARAVAN ON THE ROAD New York, October 25 (RHC)-- An international contingent of religious and community leaders is challenging the U.S. blockade of Cuba. The U.S.-Cuba Friendshipment Caravan is once again on the road -- traveling from north to south, down six different routes and stopping in 75 cities along the way. Caravanistas hold informational events about Cuba and collect material aid on their way to the U.S. border with Mexico. This coming weekend, the participants of this 11th Pastors for Peace Caravan will be in San Antonio, where they will prepare to cross the border into Mexico and continue on to Tampico. According to organizers of the caravan, in Tampico, the volunteers will load a Cuban ship with the aid and then fly to Havana for a weeklong program of activities. This caravan is dedicated to Cuba's innovations in energy and transportation alternatives. The director of Pastors for Peace, the Reverend Lucius Walker, told reporters that caravanistas will attempt to deliver medicines, medical supplies and equipment, school supplies, busses and other vehicles, computers and sports equipment - all without applying for a U.S. government license. Reverend Walker added that caravan organizers will also attempt to deliver humanitarian aid aimed at supporting Cuba's commitment to alternative energy, such as solar panels, batteries, fluorescent lamps and transceivers - necessary to provide an alternative energy source for rural schools and medical clinics. Building upon this theme, caravanistas will take part in a round-trip bicycle tour between the Cuban provinces of Havana and Pinar del Rio, as well as bring a mobile bicycle repair shop to the island. This 11th Pastors for Peace caravan is also timed to coincide with the Second World Meeting of Friendship and Solidarity, slated for here in the Cuban capital from November 10th through the 15th. At the upcoming solidarity conference, more than 4 thousand activists from around the world plan to converge on Havana to discuss ways to promote greater friendship between the Cuban people and the rest of the world. According to Reverend Lucius Walker: "Cuba has never ceased to practice solidarity with Third World nations, which Fidel Castro reiterated during his recent visit to the United States to address the United Nations." The founder and director of Pastors for Peace referred to the Cuban leader's offer to provide medical school scholarships -- free-of-charge -- to poor and disenfranchised U.S. students, with their only commitment being that they return to their country and practice medicine in poor communities. Reverend Walker told journalists that coordinating the Friendshipment Caravan with the international solidarity meeting provides people with a way to reciprocate the profound sense of friendship and solidarity that the U.S. people have historically experienced with the Cuban people. Pastors for Peace has been organizing caravans to Cuba since 1992 and has delivered more than 2,500 tons of aid to the island. *VICE PRESIDENT LAGE MEETS WITH ANC DELEGATION Havana, October 25 (RHC)-- Cuban Vice President Carlos Lage met on Wednesday with a high-ranking delegation from the African National Congress, led by South African Vice President Jacob Zuma. Lage briefed the visiting ANC delegation about the economic and political situation in the country and expressed his pleasure to learn about what is happening in South Africa. The delegation from the African National Congress arrived in Havana on Monday and will be touring places of social and economic interest throughout the island until Sunday, the 29th. In other diplomatic news, Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque arrived this morning in Caracas, the Venezuelan capital. He will meet with his Venezuelan counterpart, Jose Vicente Rangel, as well as other high-ranking officials from the sister Latin American country. *CUBA AND HAITI SIGN IMPORTANT BILATERAL ACCORDS Havana, October 25 (RHC)-- Cuba and Haiti have taken an important step forward in relations between the two countries with the signing of three bilateral accords. The agreements were signed Tuesday evening by the Cuban Minister of Culture, Abel Prieto, and his Haitian counterpart, Paul Antoine Bien-Aime. The new bilateral accords will increase the number of medical personnel offered by Cuba to its Caribbean neighbor -- from 400 to 600 -- and provide for increased cooperation in the fishing industry. Cuba will also continue helping with a literacy campaign in Haiti, as well as lending assistance in cultural and artistic programs. The accords were signed during the official working-visit of Haitian President Rene Preval, who is heading his country's delegation to the Third Inter-governmental Mixed Commission, taking place in the Cuban capital. Speaking with reporters on Wednesday, the Haitian president stated that he greatly admires the development of Cuba, despite the fact that the island has been economically blockaded by the United States for 40 years. *JAZZ ENTHUSIASTS READY FOR JAZZ FESTIVAL 2000 Havana, October 25th (RHC)-- Preparations are in full swing for the 19th edition of Havana's International Jazz Plaza Festival. The chair of the Organizing Committee, critically acclaimed Cuban jazz pianist Jesus "Chucho" Valdez briefed the press Wednesday on confirmed participants, and scheduled concerts. According to Valdes, this year's festival will be dedicated to honor renowned US trumpet player and showman Louis Armstrong, on the centennial of his birthday. Jazz performers who have confirmed their attendance include the New Orleans-based band Cubanola, led by Terrence Blanchard, with the participation of Nicholas Paton, currently two of the top trumpeters in the international jazz scene; the Ronnie Mathews Trio, the Kenny Barron Trio, and Dave Valentin, among other artists coming from the United States. The Cuban music representation will include, among others, Orlando Valle "Maracas" band, Bobby Carcasses, Frank Emilio Flynn, Bellita and Jazz Tumbata and Chucho Valdez Jr. Sponsored by the Cuban Music Institute, and the General Society of Spanish Authors -SGAE-, the event is held every two years in the Cuban capital. Since it first started in the small patio of the Plaza Municipality Cultural Center, the festival outgrew those premises to become a must in the international jazz circuit. *WASHINGTON DC MAYOR SENDS GREETINGS TO HAVANA WITH BALLET COMPANY Havana, October 25 (RHC)--Among the prestigious ballet companies participating in Havana's 17th International Ballet Festival is the US Washington Ballet. On Tuesday, members of the Washington D.C. company spoke to the press in the Cuban capital. Before fielding questions from the audience, a member of the Washington troupe read a statement from the mayor of Washington D.C. Anthony Williams. "Dear Mr. Minister, on behalf of the residents of the District of Colombia, I am writing to extend greetings to the people of Havana, on the occasion of the Washington Ballet's visit for a week long artistic exchange. This is a very exciting and important opportunity for our local artists to perform, teach and learn from their fellow Cuban artists. Cuba's legendary artistic heritage will undoubtedly enrich and inspire all those that have traveled to Havana for this event. In addition, both the people of Washington D.C and the people of Havana stand to benefit when our artists reach out to one another, in the spirit of good will and friendship. It is my sincere hope that this trip will result in many more cultural and artistic exchanges both in Washington and Havana in the years to come. Sincerely Anthony A. Williams, Mayor of Washington D.C." The Washington Ballet Company performs on Wednesday and Thursday in Havana's Mella Theater. *INTERNATIONAL ATHEROSCLEROSIS CONFERENCE UNDERWAY IN HAVANA Havana, October 25 (RHC)-- The 3rd international arteriosclerosis conference is underway at the Havana Libre Hotel in the Cuban capital. Hundreds of specialists from 20 nations in Europe and the Americas are participating in FRATEROS, as the conference is known, in efforts to halt arteriosclerosis - the first cause of death of hospitalized patients in many countries. The event includes a symposium on risk factors and the biological consequences of arteriosclerosis, as well as a number of master conferences. One of the personalities attending FRATEROS is Dr. Ros Rahola from Spain who is the President of the Ibero Latin America society of arteriosclerosis. Dr. Ros delivered a talk on cholesterol in people's diet and associated cardiovascular risks. Special conferences have been scheduled for Wednesday in which the German Bayer and Merz Pharma companies will participate. Sponsored by the Ministry of Public Health, the World Health Organization, the Panamerican Health Organization, and the Howard Foundation from Cambridge, among other institutions, the FRATEROS conference winds up on October 26th. *SOUTH AFRICAN VICE PRESIDENT IN CUBA Havana, October 25 (RHC)-- South Africa's Vice President, Jacob Zuma said on Tuesday in Havana that his visit to Cuba is a good opportunity to further strengthen bilateral ties between both nations. The South African leader met on Tuesday with the head of International Affairs of the Central Committee of the Cuban Communist Party, Jose Ramon Balaguer, and both placed a floral wreath before the Jose Marti Memorial in Havana. Jacob Zuma also visited the Latin American School of Medicine and other places of economic and social interest. He is scheduled to wind up his visit on Saturday. *HAVANA PREPARES FOR INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR Havana, October 25 (RHC)-- The 18th Havana International Trade Fair will kick off on Sunday at the EXPOCUBA exhibition pavilion with the participation of representatives from 63 countries. According to organizers the increase in the number of participants is a clear condemnation of Washington's blockade against Cuba. Over 20 official delegations, 1,500 foreign firms and some 500 national companies will be present, according to the President of the Havana Trade Fair. Spain, Italy, Mexico, and Canada will be the countries with the most representation at the fair, with Japan and Portugal participating for the first time. (c) 2000 Radio Habana Cuba, NY Transfer News. 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