Radio Havana Cuba-27 October 2000 Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 27 October 2000 . *IN VENEZUELA, FIDEL PAYS HOMAGE TO BOLIVAR AND MARTI *COLOMBIAN GROUPS TO PROPOSE CUBA'S HEALTH CARE SYSTEM FOR NOBEL PEACE PRIZE *GOVERNOR OF THE RUSSIAN CITY OF ST. PETERSBURG VISITS CUBA *CUBAN AND SOUTH AFRICAN YOUTH LEADERS MEET IN HAVANA *MORE THAN 90 MEXICAN FIRMS TO ATTEND HAVANA INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR *E.U. COOPERATION WITH CUBA: 58 MILLION DOLLARS FROM 1996 TO 1999 *SWISS DEPT. OF DEVELOPMENT AND COOPERATION TO ESTABLISH TIES WITH CUBA *WASHINGTON BALLET RECEIVES ACCLAIM FOR PERFORMANCE IN HAVANA *Viewpoint: WASHINGTON IS BEING HELD HOSTAGE BY THE MIAMI MAFIA . *IN VENEZUELA, FIDEL PAYS HOMAGE TO BOLIVAR AND MARTI Havana, October 27 (RHC) -- During the second day of an official visit to Venezuela, Cuban President Fidel Castro paid homage to Latin American founding fathers Simon Bolivar and Jose Marti. After laying a floral wreath at the urn containing Bolivar's remains, the Cuban leader inaugurated the Jose Marti Casa de las Americas -- a Latin American cultural center carrying the name of the father of Cuba's independence. Following these activities, President Castro received the keys to the capital city, Caracas, and then met with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez at Foreign Ministry headquarters to fine-tune the details of an extensive cooperation accord both leaders will sign on Monday. The high-point of the day, however, was expected this afternoon when the leader of the Cuban Revolution will address Venezuela's National Assembly to launch a political message to the Venezuelan people. On Thursday, accompanied by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, President Castro participated in a homage to the Cuban medical brigades working in Vargas, the state hardest hit by torrential rains last December that claimed some 30 thousand lives. The Cuban leader recalled the anguish he felt when the catastrophe occurred just when Chavez's Bolivariano revolutionary project had begun. With thousands gathering to witness the activity, the Cuban leader stated that he was impressed by the confidence that the Venezuelan people have in their President. *COLOMBIAN GROUPS TO PROPOSE CUBA'S HEALTH CARE SYSTEM FOR NOBEL PEACE PRIZE Havana, October 27 (RHC)--Colombian solidarity with Cuba organizations have expressed their intention to propose Cuba's health care system as a candidate for the Nobel Peace prize. The announcement was made on Thursday by the Colombian delegation to the World Solidarity meeting to be held next month in Havana. Colombian delegates to the event read the document in Bogota, which thanks Cuba for its humanitarian gesture of sending medical assistance to countries around the world. The document adds that if Cuba's public health system, does not merit the Nobel Peace Prize, than the award is a farce. What is more, says the statement of Colombian solidarity organizations, Cuba has trained thousands of health professionals who are now offering their services free of charge without regard to race or class. These, says the document , are true doctors without borders, who have assisted more than 18,000 victims of the Chernobyl nuclear accident and of natural disasters in Latin America. The Colombian statement notes that the sacrifice and dedication of Cuban health professionals is a reality despite the inhuman blockade imposed against the island by the most powerful country in the world. The Nobel Peace Prize awarded to the island's health care system is a gesture of elemental historic justice, concludes the document, which will be presented to the 2nd World Solidarity Conference which takes place from November 10 -14 in Havana. *GOVERNOR OF THE RUSSIAN CITY OF ST. PETERSBURG VISITS CUBA Havana, October 27 (RHC)-- The Governor of the Russian city of St. Petersburg, Vladimir Yakovlev, was welcomed by Cuban government Minister, Ricardo Cabrisas on Thursday in Havana's Revolution Palace. The St. Petersburg delegation analyzed with Cuban officials, the possibility of increasing bilateral exchanges between Cuba and St. Petersburg taking into account that the Russian City has the largest maritime and commercial port in the Federation. The Cuban official mentioned the island's pharmaceutical industry, in particular Hepatitis type B vaccines, as possible exports to St. Petersburg. The Governor of St. Petersburg and Cuban government minister Ricardo Cabrisis, also discussed sugar exports to Russia and membership in the World Trade Organization. The Governor of St. Petersburg will participate in Sunday's opening of the Havana International Trade Fair. *CUBAN AND SOUTH AFRICAN YOUTH LEADERS MEET IN HAVANA Havana, October 27 (RHC)-- The General Secretaries of Cuba's Young Communist League, Otto Rivero and the African National Congress' Youth League, Fikile Emballa, met in Havana and exchanged experiences on the current situation in their respective countries. Embalula spoke of ANC efforts to halt poverty and illiteracy and the unemployment that affects 5 million of 11 million South African young people. The South African youth leader expressed interest in learning about the experiences of Communist youth on the island, the Revolution's programs dedicated to children, teenagers and Cuban achievements in education, science, culture, health and sports. The General Secretary of Cuba's Young Communist League,or UJC, Otto Rivero, briefed the South African delegation on the history and current situation of UJC members and other youth, student and children's organizations. He also gave the South African delegation a detailed account of the so-called, "University for All," a popular education program that is being televised islandwide to students, professionals and Cubans in general. *MORE THAN 90 MEXICAN FIRMS TO ATTEND HAVANA INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR Havana, October 27 (RHC)-- Over 90 export firms from 14 Mexican states, will participate in the 18th Havana International Trade Fair which gets underway on Sunday at the EXPOCUBA exhibition pavilion. The Mexican stand will be headed by the Director of Mexico's Foreign Trade National Bank, Enrique Vilatela. Some 1500 foreign companies from 63 countries, as well as 300 national firms, will participate in Cuba's largest trade fair. *E.U. COOPERATION WITH CUBA: 58 MILLION DOLLARS FROM 1996 TO 1999 Havana, October 27 (RHC)--The European Union's cooperation with Cuba reached 58 million dollars from 1996 to 1999. European Union Commercial Advisor for Mexico and Cuba, Victor Andres Maldonado, stressed on Thursday in Havana that the UE has placed no conditions on Cuba in exchange for its cooperation with the island. He said that the EU does not believe in isolation policies and he noted that the European Union, on various occasions has condemned Washington's blockade against Cuba. Among the main EU-Cuba projects planned for next year, is institutional support, which will include legal training for Cubans in real estate and international law. *SWISS DEPT. OF DEVELOPMENT AND COOPERATION TO ESTABLISH TIES WITH CUBA Havana, October 27 (RHC)-- The head of Switzerland's Department of Development and Cooperation, Walter Fust, said on Friday in Havana, that his government plans to establish cooperation ties with Cuba and to contribute to the island's economic development. Fust added that Switzerland has plans for joint projects in agricultural. He explained that Switzerland is studying the possibility of opening a permanent office for future programs with Cuba. *WASHINGTON BALLET RECEIVES ACCLAIM FOR PERFORMANCE IN HAVANA Havana, October 27 (RHC)-- One of the most acclaimed performances in the 17th International Ballet Festival underway in Havana, was the debut of the Washington Ballet Company. The Washington D. C.- based troupe, demonstrated in Thursday night's performance, the diverse classical and contemporary trends included in their repertoire. One of the most popular pieces with the audience was "Mercedes and Betty" which was choreographed by the company's artistic director, Septime Webre, with music by the Havana Ensemble group directed by Cesar Lopez. Cuban, Loipa Araujo, known as one of the Cuban ballet's "four jewels," performs on Friday night in Havana's Garcia Lorca theater, in "Cheek to Cheek," choreographed by Roland Petit. A version of the full-length, "Don Quijote," under the direction of the head of Cuba's National Ballet Company, Alicia Alonso, will also be performed Friday night in Havana. Viewpoint: *WASHINGTON IS BEING HELD HOSTAGE BY THE MIAMI MAFIA Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque recently stated that the government of the United States has been taken hostage by a small, but powerful, group of anti-Cuba mafia in Miami. Havana's top diplomat said that Washington has handed over its authority to a bunch of terrorists, completely losing its ability to put together a rational Cuba policy. The U.S. economic blockade of Cuba has been in effect for nearly 40 years now, without accomplishing its stated goals. The United States hoped that the economic measures against the Cuban Revolution would cause its isolation and eventual destruction, goals which have obviously not worked. Despite growing public pressure for a change in U.S. policy toward Cuba, even the two presidential candidates have identical positions regarding this foreign policy issue: maintain the status quo. Neither George W.Bush nor Albert Gore, Jr. can answer the question: Why is it that Washington can have political, economic and even diplomatic relations with all of the other socialist countries in the world... but not Havana? How is it possible that the White House can have good relations with other countries that have Communist Parties in power... but not Havana? There is simply no reason why the United States cannot change its policy toward Cuba... except Miami. Washington maintains its antiquated policy toward the island, while increasing numbers of Americans are questioning their government's reasoning. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has come out forcefully for a change in policy. Farmers want to sell their agricultural goods, pharmaceutical companies would like to sell their products -- but the hostage to Miami's mafia continues to hold out. Political analysts see the White House in one of its weakest positions in many years -- allowing itself to be totally manipulated by terrorist groups in southern Florida. Even congressional representatives on Capitol Hill have supported the lifting of some sanctions -- specifically the prohibition on the sale of food and medicine. But that same old Miami mafia was able to derail legislation designed to "ease" the blockade. With amendments attached to the bill and the re-wording of key phrases, a small handful of congressional representatives in the pay of Miami's terrorist groups successfully blocked the intentions of a majority of Americans. Now, more than ever before, it can be said that the U.S. government is completely in the pocket of those who call the shots when it comes to the country's Cuba-related foreign policy. Washington is nothing more than a hostage to the Miami mafia. (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-21965 2000-Oct-28 14:46:02