Radio Havana Cuba-31 October 2000 Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 31 October 2000 . *FIDEL CASTRO RETURNS HOME FROM HISTORIC VISIT TO VENEZUELA *SO-CALLED "REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY" HAS FAILED IN LATIN AMERICA *MAYOR OF ST. PETERSBURG SAYS THAT RELATIONS WITH CUBA ARE SOLID *HAVANA INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR ATTRACTS IMPORTANT FOREIGN INVESTORS *CUBAN VICE PRESIDENT TOURS PAVILIONS AT HAVANA INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR *CUBA CONTINUES DEVELOPING ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY *CUBA'S ECONOMY CONTINUES UPWARD TREND . *FIDEL CASTRO RETURNS HOME FROM HISTORIC VISIT TO VENEZUELA Havana, October 31 (RHC)-- Cuban President Fidel Castro arrived at Jose Marti International Airport during the early morning hours of Tuesday from what national media outlets are calling an historic visit to the Bolivariano Republic of Venezuela. In this morning's edition of the Cuban news daily Granma, further details of the extensive cooperation accord, signed by the two countries, were published. The accord will be valid for five years, with the possibility of extending it another five years. It contains a long list of goods and services, to be redefined each year, that Cuba will provide to support Venezuela's ample economic and social development program. Venezuela will pay for those goods and services with oil and its derivates, valued equivalent to world market prices. In the agro-industrial sector, Cuba will provide Venezuela with animal feed, organic fertilizers and will participate in the construction of three sugar mills in that South American nation. Cuba will also provide Venezuela with vaccines for its cattle-raising industry -- among numerous other areas of cooperation. The agreement in the education sector includes Cuba's commitment to train teachers at every level, while the island will also provide Venezuela with educational video programs recorded in Cuba. In the health sector, Cuba will train Venezuelan doctors and other health personnel-- including providing post-graduate studies in a number of medical specialties. Cuba will also provide treatment for neurological restoration, retinosis pigmentosa, traumatology and transplants of the medulla, heart, liver, kidney and cornea. The accord also foresees extensive cooperation in the sports and cultural arenas, with Venezuela providing Cuba with up to 53,000 barrels of crude daily -- at preferential prices and a low interest rate. *SO-CALLED "REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY" HAS FAILED IN LATIN AMERICA Caracas, October 31 (RHC)-- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, speaking at a joint news conference with his Cuban counterpart Fidel Castro -- just before the Cuban leader left for Havana -- stated that so-called representative democracy has failed in Latin America. The Venezuelan leader emphasized that his country is now involved in a revolutionary process to establish justice and true democracy. Hugo Chavez noted that during the 1980's, Venezuela was held up by the United States as the ideal model of democracy -- while, in reality, the country slipped into an abyss of violence and poverty. The Venezuelan president stated that 80 percent of his people live in poverty, with more than half of that figure representing total or abject poverty. Cuban President Fidel Castro and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez held a joint news conference Monday afternoon, which was transmitted live by satellite -- with a special, interactive video conference hook-up. Responding to questions from journalists in Argentina, Spain, Colombia and the United States, the two leaders covered a wide range of subjects. The leader of the Cuban Revolution, answering a question presented to him by a reporter from the Venezuelan newspaper "El Nacional," stated that Cuba's history is full of examples of true democracy. Fidel Castro affirmed that Havana does not 'export' its revolution to Latin America -- noting that it is Washington that has tried to export - or rather impose - its political model on the rest of the hemisphere. The Cuban leader stated that the United States has pushed its political and economic agenda on other countries around the world - while Cuba has a clean record... with no death squads, no disappeared or tortured political prisoners. The special joint news conference, which lasted for more than four hours, was carried live on Cuban radio and television, as well as transmitted on the international shortwave frequencies of Radio Havana Cuba. *MAYOR OF ST. PETERSBURG SAYS THAT RELATIONS WITH CUBA ARE SOLID Havana, October 31 (RHC)-- The mayor of the Russian city of St. Petersburg, Vladimir Yakovlev has affirmed that relations between Russia and Cuba are solid. In statements to the press after winding up his visit to Cuba, the Russian official expressed confidence in strengthening economic ties between companies both from St. Petersburg and Havana. Before leaving for Havana's Jose Marti International Airport, the mayor of St. Petersburg met with Cuba's First Vice President and Defense Minister Raul Castro, and discussed bilateral interests. Cuba's defense minister said that the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin, scheduled for later this year, will be of vital importance for bilateral relations. During his official visit, the mayor of the Russian city signed cooperation agreements in the fields of education, health, economy, tourism and culture. He also met with Cuba's Vice President Carlos Lage, Minister without Portfolio, Ricardo Cabrisas and the President of the Cuban Parliament, Ricardo Alarcon. *HAVANA INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR ATTRACTS IMPORTANT FOREIGN INVESTORS Havana, October 31 (RHC)-- The President of CARICOM's Trade and Economic Development Council, Ralph Fonseca, said on Tuesday in Havana that the objective of his visit to Cuba is to learn from the island's experience in the field of economy and to exchange ideas on relations between Belize, Cuba and the Caribbean. At the end of his visit to the island, the Belician official added that his country is participating in Havana's International Trade Fair with a number of representatives from the private sector who want to contact Cuban business executives and other nations. The CARICOM official met with Cuba's Vice President Carlos Lage and Minister without Portfolio Ricardo Cabrisas to discuss issues of bilateral interest. *CUBAN VICE PRESIDENT TOURS PAVILIONS AT HAVANA INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR Havana, October 31 (RHC)-- Cuba's Vice President Carlos Lage toured on Tuesday the pavilions of China and Germany during the 8th Havana International Trade Fair which got underway on Sunday in Havana's PABEXPO Pavilion Halls. Tuesday's commercial activities are dedicated to Italy, Canada and the Basque country. Monday's sessions were dedicated to Britain and France, gathering almost one hundred firms. During the inauguration of the British pavilion, Scotland's Minister without Portfolio and Parliament member, Brian Wilson, pointed out that the pavilion will broaden commercial contacts and cooperation with Cuba, especially in the fields of natural gas and oil. *CUBA CONTINUES DEVELOPING ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY Havana, October 31 (RHC)-- The President of Panama's Federation of Trade and Hotel Management, Norma Cano, pointed out on Tuesday that despite Washington's blockade against Cuba, the island has shown its sovereignty in the development of advanced technology. Cano expressed the solidarity of the Panamanian people towards the Cuban people and praised the advances of the island's tourism industry, which has doubled the work force on the island in the last five years. The Presidency of Panama's Federation of Trade and Hotel Management, which is participating in the 3rd International Hotel and Tourism Trade Union Meeting, has expressed in its support for the Cuban people and outlines strategies that defends the national identity of each country. Viewpoint: CUBA'S ECONOMY CONTINUES UPWARD TREND In Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, Cuba has signed an agreement of economic, social and cultural cooperation which will guide relations between these two Latin American countries from now on. This is an historical document which has continued to be erroneously interpreted by the international press. Some have hailed this accord as the salvation of Cuba and others have clamed that it is a crude barter between Cuba and Venezuela for oil and medical services. However, immediately after the Caracas agreement had been signed, the text was explained in full in order to do away with any mistaken or dishonest interpretation. It is essential that the public completely understand Cuba's internationalist policies which are based on solidarity and respect for humanity. The thousands of medical personnel and other professionals working in Latin American nations and other Third World countries do so for altruistic motives and not for personal gain. The economic situation in Cuba is not developed because the country continues to be criminally blockaded against the trade potential of its neighbors. Recently, a pitiful attempt to change this policy of exclusion from the blockade of the sale of medicines and food to Cuba was frustrated by the machinations of Cuba's enemies in the U.S. Congress. However, the economic policies adopted by the Cuban government has guided the island through five years of the worst conditions possible, created by the disappearance of the European socialist community. At the opening of the 18th International Havana Trade Fair, Cuban Vice President Carlos Lage told reporters that the upward trend in Cuba's economy continues this year with a 13 percent increase in the Gross National Product. This year, oil production will reach 3 million 600 tons of crude. Four million tons are projected for next year, which is approximately half of the amount of fuel needed nationally. Tourism is maintaining its momentum and nickel exports have already surpassed 70 million tons, placing Cuba among the principal world producers of this strategic mineral. With this trend in the economy predicted to continue, Cuba is becoming stronger and will continue to resist Washington's economic blockade and other aggressions from its neighbor to the North. (c) 2000 Radio Habana Cuba, NY Transfer News. 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