Radio Havana Cuba-14 September 2000 06:00 Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 14 September 2000 06:00 *WASHINGTON APPROVES VISAS FOR SEVEN CUBAN LAWMAKERS, BUT NOT FOR ALARCON *EMIR OF QATAR ARRIVES IN CUBA ON OFFICIAL VISIT *HONDURAN FOREIGN MINISTER PRAISES CUBAN MEDICAL BRIGADE IN HIS COUNTRY *NEW JAPANESE RESTAURANT OPENS IN HAVANA *RESIDENTS OF HAVANA´S PLAYA MUNICIPALITY READY FOR MASSIVE CLEANUP *IMPORTANT SOURCE OF WATER SUPPLY FOR HOLGUIN NEIGHBORHOODS *CUBA WILL LEAD LATIN AMERICA IN SYDNEY *WOMEN'S OLYMPIC VOLLEYBALL TEAM FACES TOUGH CHALLENGE *SOTOMAYOR, PEDROSO ARRIVE IN SYDNEY TO COMPLETE CUBA'S OLYMPIC DELEGATION *WHEN THERE'S A WILL, THERE'S A WAY: CUBA'S ECONOMIC RECOVERY *WASHINGTON APPROVES VISAS FOR SEVEN CUBAN LAWMAKERS, BUT NOT FOR ALARCON Havana, September 14 (RHC)-- The U.S. State Department has approved visas for seven Cuban lawmakers to attend a Washington meeting of the U.S. Congressional Black Caucus, but still refuses to grant permission to National Assembly President Ricardo Alarcon. The Cuban Parliament president told reporters on Tuesday that he had planned to travel from New York to Washington to announce an offer by the Cuban government to yearly allow 250 poor, Black Americans to study medicine in Cuba free-of-charge. Details of the proposal were reportedly to have been worked out with Representative James Clyburn, a Democrat from South Carolina and the Caucus Chairman. The U.S. State Department also refused to grant Alarcon a visa to attend a meeting of presiding officers of the world's parliaments two weeks ago, despite the fact that the event was sponsored by the United Nations. *EMIR OF QATAR ARRIVES IN CUBA ON OFFICIAL VISIT Havana, September 14 (RHC)-- The Emir of Qatar, Sheik Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, arrived in Cuba this evening for an official visit at the invitation of Cuban President Fidel Castro. The visit constitutes the first of a head of state from the Persian Gulf region. The high-level delegation also includes Qatar's Ministers of Foreign Relations, Energy, Economy, Industry and Trade. *HONDURAN FOREIGN MINISTER PRAISES CUBAN MEDICAL BRIGADE IN HIS COUNTRY New York, September 14 (RHC)-- Honduran Foreign Minister Roberto Flores has praised the support of a Cuban medical brigade working in that Central American nation. The Honduran leader spoke with reporters on Tuesday in New York City at the United Nations, following a meeting with his Cuban counterpart, Felipe Perez Roque. Flores stated that Cuban medical personnel have offered an enormous service to the Honduran people, who are now receiving medical attention free-of-charge. Foreign Minister Roberto Flores said he was also grateful to Cuba because over 420 Honduran young people are studying on scholarships to become doctors at Havana's Latin American School of Medicine. In addition, Honduran youngsters are being trained as technicians and sports trainers at a recently inaugurated International Sports Institution in the Cuban capital. According to Cuba's Health Ministry, as of the end of August, there were a total of 123 health professionals offering medical services free of charge in the most remote areas of Honduras. *NEW JAPANESE RESTAURANT OPENS IN HAVANA Havana, September 14 (RHC)-- Cuba's Cubanacan Palmeras Company has announced the opening of Havana's first Japanese Restaurant. The Sakura Restaurant -- which in Japanese means "well-being, happiness and rebirth" -- will allow lovers of traditional Japanese cuisine to enjoy a real Japanese meal in the Cuban capital. The project received technical assistance and advice from the Japanese Embassy in Havana. *RESIDENTS OF HAVANA´S PLAYA MUNICIPALITY READY FOR MASSIVE CLEANUP Havana, September 14 (RHC)-- Residents of Havana's Playa municipality are ready for a massive cleanup of their neighborhoods and coastal areas, scheduled for Saturday, September 23rd. The huge effort is part of an international campaign entitled "To Cleanup the Planet," sponsored by the United Nations Environmental Program. According to Dr. Angel Corvea of Cuba's Oceanology Institute, the coordinating body of the campaign, the objective is to educate the community. He added that the support of local residents and institutions is necessary to care for and protect the environment. The Cuban scientist stressed that what is important about the cleanup is not how much trash or raw materials are collected, but the experience gained by the community, which can serve as a starting point for instilling environmental values. *IMPORTANT SOURCE OF WATER SUPPLY FOR HOLGUIN NEIGHBORHOODS Holguin, September 14 (RHC)-- In just 72 hours, an important system supplying water to the eastern city of Holguin, was installed in the Gibara reservoir. The water pipes, which were designed by the National Hydraulic Resources Institute, will improve water service to numerous neighborhoods in Holguin province located in the eastern part of the island. *CUBA WILL LEAD LATIN AMERICA IN SYDNEY Sydney, September 14 (RHC)-- Latin America, led by Cuba, should make its best sports performance in history during the Sydney Olympics, according to the prestigious U.S. sports magazine, Sports Illustrated. The magazine's Special Olympic Edition predicts that Cuba will win more gold medals in Sydney than during the 1992 Barcelona games, when the island finished in fifth place. Cuba finished 8th in Atlanta four years ago. The head of Cuba's press corps at the games, Pedro Martinez, told reporters on Tuesday that the goal of the Cuban athletes is to surpass the total number of medals obtained during the Atlanta games. *WOMEN'S OLYMPIC VOLLEYBALL TEAM FACES TOUGH CHALLENGE Sydney, September 14 (RHC)-- The mighty Cuban women's volleyball team comes to Australia in search of an unprecedented third consecutive Olympic gold medal --but is facing a tough challenge from the Russian and Brazilian squads. These three teams appear set to dominate the two-week competition, with the Chinese team also capable of joining this elite. Cuban head coach Eugenio George, however, is convinced the women's volleyball team has a good chance to win the third consecutive Olympic title in Sydney. Speaking with reporters in the Australian city, George pointed to the team's excellent performance at the recently concluded Grand Prix, where the Cubans not only won the tournament's title, but also finished undefeated. He also pointed to the good training period the team spent in Japan before arriving in Sydney. He said the players are in good shape and with no trace of injuries. Volleyball competitions kick off one day after the inauguration of the games, set for this Friday, September 15th. The starting line up includes Taimaris Aguero, Marlenis Costa, Regla Bell, Regla Torres, Yumilka Ruiz and Ana Ibis Fernandez. At the 1996, games Cuba defeated China three sets to one for the gold and Brazil 3-2 against Russia for the bronze. *SOTOMAYOR, PEDROSO ARRIVE IN SYDNEY TO COMPLETE CUBA'S OLYMPIC DELEGATION Sydney, September 14 (RHC)-- Cuban jumpers Javier Sotomayor and Ivan Pedroso are now together with the rest of the island's delegation in Sydney. High jumper Javier Sotomayor -- the 32-year-old world record holder -- told reporters upon his arrival that he has recovered from a leg strain and would be aiming for his second Olympic title. Sotomayor, who allegedly tested positive for the use of cocaine in a controversial doping test at the Winnipeg Pan American Games, was cleared by the Cuban federation but banned for two years by the International Amateur Athletic Federation's (IAAF) arbitration panel. Last month, the IAAF's ruling council decided to reduce the sanction to one year and allow Sotomayor to take part in what he has said will be his last Olympic Games. Viewpoint: *WHEN THERE'S A WILL, THERE'S A WAY: CUBA'S ECONOMIC RECOVERY The Cuban economy keeps steadily growing. According to Cuban Economy Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez, addressing an Ibero-American Ministerial meeting held last week in Panama, the economy has been increasing at an annual average of 4.4 percent since 1995. It's well-known that the island almost lost all its foreign trade partners after the collapse of Eastern Europe's economic system and the disintegration of the Soviet Union. The Cuban people then faced the worst economic crisis ever, reinforced by Washington's nearly four-decade economic and financial blockade of the island. In order to counter the effects of the crisis, the Cuban government adopted a package of economic readjustment measures, which included opening up the economy to foreign investment. Mixed enterprises were created in partnership with the Cuban State and foreign firms, with the purpose of improving productivity, efficiency and accessing new markets. Tourism was prioritized and has now become the island's major foreign currency earner. In addition, unemployment has not increased to significant levels and social services -- free-of-charge to all Cuban citizens -- have been guaranteed since 1959. Cuban Economy Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez recalled that from 1995 to 1999, following a free fall of the Gross National Product, the island's economic recovery kept steadily growing - reaching a solid 7.7 percent increase in the first half of this year. Meanwhile, Cuba continues to develop commercial relations with other countries -- allowing for the presence of nearly 400 mixed enterprises, successfully operated with foreign capital in several economic sectors. Cuba has no relations with international credit institutions such as the International Monetary Fund or the World Bank, having to pay high, short-term interest rates for loans coming from private entities. As Cuban Economic Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez recalled in Panama, the course that the island is taking is the right one and is already yielding results with the least possible social cost. But it would be naive to believe that the recovery of the Cuban economy is a miracle. It is the result of the wisdom of Cuba's leadership and the people's clear understanding of the need of preserving the Revolution. Moreover, the economic recovery has not been obtained through dependence on foreign interests or by selling off the island's independence and sovereignty. Cuba has demonstrated that no dim scenarios or sudden turns of history can detour a people from its chosen path. As the old saying goes: When there's a will, there's a way. (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-26514 2000-Sep-14 07:31:59