>Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit > >Prensa Latina >DIRECT FROM CUBA >May 16, 2000 > >News: > -GRANMA REPORTS POLISH COVERT ACTIONS IN CUBA > -HEALTH CARE SYSTEM FOR THE SERIOUSLY ILL IMPLEMENTED IN CAMAGUEY > -MEXICO'S LEFT WING PARTY SATISFIED WITH MEXICO CITY MEETING > -VALENCIA BUSINESS PEOPLE EXPLORE PROSPECTS WITH CUBANS > >Farm Congress: > -REPRESENTATIVES OF 11 COUNTRIES ATTEND CUBAN FARM CONGRESS > -CUBAN FARMERS MEET TO INCREASE PRODUCTION > -SUGAR YIELD UP, BUT INTERNATIONAL PRICES CONTINUE TO FALL > >Arts: > -COMPAY SEGUNDO MAKES COLOSSAL IMPRESSION ON MEXICAN PUBLIC > >Tourism: > -MEETING BETWEEN FIDEL CASTRO AND HEMINGWAY REMEMBERED > -FIRST YEAR OF REMODELED OLD "FLORIDA" HOTEL CELEBRATED > > >GRANMA REPORTS POLISH COVERT ACTIONS IN CUBA > >Havana, May 16 (PL) After giving details of a Polish delegation's >underground mission in Cuba, Granma daily analyzed today what it classifies >as an amazing dialogue between the visitors and their hosts, in their dreams >of destroying the revolution. > >A detailed report of each and every step, meeting and speech of Polish >senator, Zbigniew Romaszewski, from his arrival May 2 until his return to >his country May 10, appears today on the first and second pages of the Cuban >morning newspaper. > >This includes his participation in so-called economists' meeting in Pinar >del Rio, organized by a supposed "Civic-Religious Training Center," where >this topic was never discussed, but combat methods to overthrow socialism >used by the Polish opposition, including undercover operations were. > >Granma reveals every action of Romaszewski, who is president of Poland's >Human Rights and Legalities Commission in the Polish senate, and came to >Cuba with the stated purpose of signing a scientific and technical >collaboration project between both countries. In fact, he devoted himself >to innumerable meetings with counter-revolutionary group ringleaders and >encouraging concrete actions. > >The newspaper highlights the senator's classification of the Cuban social >project, as a dictatorship with no more than five years left in power. He >also simplistically compared what happened in Poland with what he foretold >would happen in Cuba, and the journal notes such forecasts are four decades >old. > >It adds that the world's most powerful country has smashed against the >steadiness and tenacity of a more conscious, experienced and organized >people, and derisively classified comparisons "between political processes >of Cuba and Poland, between truth and parody, between heroic and >ridiculous." > >Everything US imperialism could do against the most powerful and strong >union of socialist countries, couldn't be done against the little island >only 90 miles away from its coast, not even when we stood alone and >blockaded twice, the long article states. > >It continues by saying Cuba has the honor of having shown the value of ideas >and the invincible strength a fair and human society can provide, and it >warns that the misdeeds of a decadent empire's lackey messengers who come to >Cuba will be monitored. > >These supposed scientific and technical co-operation promoters or polished >diplomatic officials, whose task is supposed to be co-operating in >developing friendship with Cuba, today are trained by the State Department >or Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), whose records of mistakes and horror >are insurmountable. > >"Everything they did over many years in Miami and in Cuba to promote >counter-revolution: dirty war, mercenary invasion of Giron, nuclear war >threat and genocidal blockade, have been crushed," asserted the journal. > >After describing the current paltry situation of the "scattered pieces of >the Cuban-American Mafia," the journal adds all that can be seen is the >anxiety of those outsiders who promote and pay counter-revolutionary persons >who make a living of this sad job inside Cuba in various ways. > >Granma declares that the world is more ungovernable everyday, and lies and >demagogy are not useful, because they are worn-out. That's why the future >belongs to the truth, to universal rebelliousness, to globalized struggle >for justice and survival. > >Even nuclear weapons are leftovers, because people's real strategic defense >are moral missiles, undetectable and indestructible. > >The journal examines the current "First World" situation, and classifies the >strategic concepts of the Atlantic Alliance- which Poland recently joined - >as old fashioned, and states that "all traitors and weapons together >couldn't change man's destiny, unless we agree to disappear." > >In the case of Cuba, it remarks that the continuity of the behavior, the >line followed since January, 1959, is a complete guarantee, for this and >coming generations, of a future worth living and all the sacrifices made for >it. > >"Today, for the immense majority of the world's poor and marginalized," >Granma emphasized, "Cuba represents an example that no force in the world is >capable of erasing." FVS/CCS > > >HEALTH CARE SYSTEM FOR THE SERIOUSLY ILL IMPLEMENTED IN CAMAGUEY > >by Sergio Morales Vera > >CAMAGUEY, Cuba, May 16 (PL) A modern Integrated Medical Emergency System >(SIUM) for seriously ill patients is working in this eastern province, after >authorization by the Cuban Public Health Ministry. > >SIUM is an active territorial network with a coordination center linking 10 >main polyclinic and 80 emergency points with the main hospitals in Camaguey, >560 km from Havana. > >Family doctors, in almost 100 per cent of the territory, when faced with a >seriously ill patient, activate the system that includes modern ambulances >equipped with up-to-date technology and specialized staff. > >Camaguey is the 12th SIUM province. It was necessary to wait for the >specialized means of transportation required by such a service. > >The SIUM doctors and paramedics were trained previously so that Camaguey had >effective techniques to continue improving life expectancy in its territory, >now 75 years. > >According to official sources, the public health budget for the current year >surpasses that of 1999 by 16 per cent, allowing one doctor per 192 >inhabitants and guaranteeing services as complex as SIUM. > >The number of doctors (according to Camaguey municipal data) is 20 times >greater today than existing in 1959 (198), the year the Cuban Revolution >triumphed, and infant mortality has been reduced more than 9 times in >comparison with 1959. OM/CCS > > >VALENCIA BUSINESSPEOPLE EXPLORE PROSPECTS WITH CUBANS > >HAVANA, May 16 (PL) A group of representative business people from Valencia >(Spain) met here with Cuban authorities to explore contacts in the Cuban >market and sell several products in Havana. > >The delegation of 40 businessmen from 33 small and middle companies is led >by Salvador Marti Huguet, Valencia Chamber of Commerce, Industry and >Navigation Council vice-president, Fernando V. > >Castello Boronat, Valencia Community Government Industry and Commerce >consultant and Jesus Murujosa, Spanish Embassy to Cuba's commercial adviser. > >The visiting firms represent shoe, food, furniture and wood, greenhouses, >gift and decorative articles, home cleaning materials, textiles, >construction, electrical goods, lighting, tourism, textile machinery and >office furniture companies. > >In the opening exploratory negotiations, Cuba's Foreign Trade Minister >Ricardo Cabrisas and Hector Manuel Perez Paez, Cuba's Chamber of Commerce >president, among others, represented the hosts. > >Cabrisas highlighted that this 4th bilateral business meeting will >facilitate economic and commercial exchange between both countries and make >better knowledge and cooperation possible. > >"Spain was as our main commercial partner for a third time in 1999 and it >was fourth in sending tourists to Cuba, with 147,000 tourists" he >emphasized. > >Bilateral trade with Spain "represents 14 per cent of our total interchange, >over 700 million dollars last year, and with Valencia specifically, more >than 60 million, Cabrisas explained. > >Of the 739 foreign company branch offices that are in Cuba, 193 are from >Spain, some from Valencia, added the minister. > >Salvador Marti, also president of Castellon Chamber of Commerce, explained >exports from Valencia to Cuba reached 9 billion pesetas (52,940,000 >dollars). > >He noted those small and middle-sized firms are interested in increasing >trade with their Cuban counterparts and are looking for suitable Cuban >partners and they hope that the Island, with its strategic location will >serve as a link between the Caribbean islands and the continental market. > >Representative Valencia enterprises exhibited sample products this afternoon >in the Habana Libre Tryp Hotel. > >The group will remain until Thursday, May 18, meeting with Cuban officials >and business executives and visiting historic, economic and cultural places >of interest. IFF/CCS > > >MEXICO'S LEFT WING PARTY SATISFIED WITH MEXICO CITY MEETING > >MEXICO, May 16 (PL) Mexico City's Democratic Revolution (PRD) leftwing party >asserted its satisfaction in Sunday's meeting to support Mexico City mayoral >candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. > >Carlos Imaz, PRD leader, expressed joy with the results of the Mexican >Federal District (DF) plebiscite for his candidate, who is disputed by the >political opposition insisting he does not fulfill the requisite of having >lived at least five years in Mexico City. > >According to Imaz, of the more than 420,000 persons participating in the >process, 96 per cent said the politician from Tabasco state, southern >Mexico, has the requisites for this process. > >Alliance for Mexico opposition members, headed by PRD, presented a demand >before electoral authorities questioning the politician's five-year >residence in Mexico City, prerequisite to stand as candidate for the >government. > >Lopez Obrador leads the five aspiring candidates and last weekend, PRI >recognized that the measures between the different published polls and those >carried out by the party itself put its candidate Jesus Silva Herzog five >points below Andres Manuel. > >Imaz insisted that PRI's representative has all requisites, while the >Mexican governor, Rosario Robles, assured that documents proving the stay >for the required period are in order and not refuted. > >PRI Mexico City president, Oscar Levin, accepted that polls grant a 40 per >cent preference to PRD, 35 per cent to Silva and 20 per cent to PAN. > >The leader from the Tricolor Party, governing the country since 1929, >accepted that the demand presented by his party against Lopez Obrador >contributed to making him "a martyr." > >Elections to renovate the Federal District government will be held July 2, >when President Ernesto Zedillo's successor will be elected, as well as 128 >senators and 500 deputies. AJS/CCS > > >Farm Congress: > >REPRESENTATIVES OF 11 COUNTRIES ATTEND CUBAN FARM CONGRESS > >HAVANA, May 16 (PL) Seventy representatives from eleven countries are >participating in the 9th the Cuban Small Farmers Association (ANAP) Congress >that began plenary sessions today with 800 delegates from all over the >country analyzing the organization's structure and function to make it more >efficient. > >ANAP President, Orlando Lugo Fonte, told Prensa Latina the foreign attendees >represent farmers' organizations from Nicaragua, Honduras, Brazil, Mexico, >the US and other countries. > >He added that those organizations will meet separately and one of them will >present a resolution supporting the Cuban Revolution and condemning the US >economic blockade and Cuban Adjustment Law, which encourages the illegal >emigration. > >Its president declared the importance of ANAP is that the organization, with >almost 27 per cent of the country's cultivated land, is responsible for 84 >per cent of the entire tobacco production, almost half of coffee and 42 per >cent of cocoa. > >He also pointed out they contribute 20 per cent of sugarcane processed in >the harvest and half the honey volume, among other foreign currency >income-generating products. > >The congress will end May 17, when the organization will celebrate its 39th >anniversary. JCT/CCS > > >CUBAN FARMERS MEET TO INCREASE PRODUCTION > >by Roberto Salomon > >HAVANA, May 16 (PL) The 9th National Association of Small Farmers (ANAP) >Congress, with 800 delegates, is meeting to increase crop output and improve >product commercialization. > >On the first day, 70 guests from 11 countries, ANAP cultivators and leaders >analyzed ANAP structure and functioning, considered essential for work >improvement. > >Orlando Lugo Fonte, ANAP president, told Prensa that Monday's discussion was >important for today's analysis of production processes, output, >commercialization and economic efficiency. > >If the base organization's executive board does not perform, if the >democracy of the cooperative does not advance, if assemblies are work >without minimum quality requirements, it's very difficult to take advantage >of resources and reach production aims, he added. > >The meeting's report of 97 detailed pages analyzes ANAP' most immediate >tasks, at a time when the country is engaged in a colossal struggle to >conquer economic difficulties, increased by the Helms-Burton Act and other >US blockade legislation. > >Among the organization's objectives are to change methods and work styles, >increase the number of members (over 250,000 now), increase the women and >youth presence (although high), increase agricultural output and improve >product commercialization. > >The main problems are with the farmers' markets that since their appearance >in the '90s have been stimuli for farmers and another way to supply the >population with food. Prices, while they have decreased in the last few >years, continue high and the activities of the intermediaries in this >enterprise are haphazard. > >The ANAP, founded 39 years ago, has had satisfying results in almost all >production areas, including important increases in sugarcane, vegetables, >beef and pork, honey, herbs and coffee Lugo Fonte declared. > >At present, ANAP members, representing private and cooperative sectors, are >20 per cent of tobacco farmers and over 40 per cent of food cultivators. > >The organization also shows an 87 per cent income-productivity of its units, >when reaching an average cost of 72 cents per peso. In the last eight years, >ANAP has accumulated profits of 600 million pesos (equal to dollars on >official exchange). IFF/CCS > > >SUGAR YIELD UP, BUT INTERNATIONAL PRICES CONTINUE TO FALL > >HAVANA, May 16 (PL) In 1999 Cuba exported half million more tons of sugar >than in 1998, but its income was less, reflecting the decrease of >international market prices, Ulises Rosales del Toro, Cuba's Sugar minister >confirmed yesterday. > >Meeting with participants in the 9th Congress of National Small Farmers >Association (ANAP) in the session on sugarcane cultivation, del Toro said >low prices of sugar and high fuel prices make things difficult for >sugarcane. > >He declared that the current harvest foresees higher export levels but the >sugar income will be less than before. > >Rosales del Toro highlighted the remarkable reduction of product costs and >the increase of agrarian and industrial efficiency which has made the higher >sugar yield possible. > >To increase the yield of agrarian cultivation and improve commercialization >is the main reason over 800 ANAP members have come to their 9th Congress. > >In the first session, attended by over 70 invited guests from eleven >nations, ANAP producers and leaders examined the structure and working >features of the organization, considered essential to consummate the work. > >Cuba fulfilled its sugar goals for the current period, and increased it by >6.7 per cent over the previous (3.78 million tons), official sources >reported. LPL/CCS > > >Arts: > >COMPAY SEGUNDO MAKES COLOSSAL IMPRESSION ON MEXICAN PUBLIC > >MEXICO CITY.- Cuban musician Compay Segundo came home yesterday after a busy >tour in Mexico, where he enchanted a public that rewarded him with delirious >applause, danced to his rhythmic Cuban "Son" and were impressed by his >vitality. > >La Jornada, one of the most influential Mexican newspapers, published a >large photo of the ninety-two-year-old charismatic musician in an article >titled "Sol, Son y Salsero en el Zocalo" (Sun, Son and Salsa in Zocalo >Square), Mexico City's main plaza. > >In Zocalo, or Constitution Plaza, over 15,000 people delighted in listening >to the Chan Chan songwriter - the song "Chan Chan" made Compay Segundo world >famous. > >Even 'though the acoustics were bad and it was very hot in the plaza, Compay >Segundo and his Habana Ensemble captivated the Mexicans with his repertoire, >as he did in a packed National Auditorium on May 6. > >During his two-week stay in Mexico he performed in Gudalajara and on various >stages in the Federal District where the veteran Cuban Son-singer moved >audiences, mainly because he feels the music as if he were 20 years old. > >"Thanks Compay, you bring Son to life," is the way press described the >performance of this living Cuban musical legend who stirs the audience to >the point of screaming his name and begging for just one more song, while he >points at them saying "Please, you will make me cry." AJS/CCS > > >Tourism: > >MEETING BETWEEN FIDEL CASTRO AND HEMINGWAY REMEMBERED > >by Roberto F. Campos > >HAVANA, May 16 (PL) Some hours after beginning the most important national >fishing tournament, the meeting 40 years ago between Fidel Castro and US >novelist Ernest Hemingway was recalled. > >A marlin fishing championship was held May 15, 1960, shortly after the >revolutionary triumph, a contest that was founded in 1950 by the Nobel >Literature prizewinner, who also participated on this occasion. > >In those days, Marina Hemingway was named Barlovento, and there, in front of >many people, Fidel Castro shook Hemingway's hand and then both went to their >vessels, the Cristal and the famous Pilar. > >At the end of the competition, in which the Cuban leader obtained more >individual points, they both sat and talked alone. > >Now, a group of admirers and witnesses of that moment, met in the >restaurant near the docks to remember that meeting. > >International Hemingway Journalism Institute's Jose Marti Professor, >Gladys Rodriguez, spoke about the meeting and Hemingway's almost mythical >presence on the Island while, themselves almost-legendary, people listened, >including Gregorio Fuentes (102 years old), Pilar's captain. > >Also attending were some of Hemingway's neighbors: Oscar Villareal and >photographer Alberto Korda, world recognized for his famous picture of Che >Guevara. > >That afternoon in 1960, Fidel Castro boarded his vessel accompanied by >Ernesto 'Che' Guevara, who spent most of the time reading a book, while >Fidel fished. > >A documentary, in which Hemingway speaks in bad Spanish, was presented, a >historic document found in Cuban Television files. > >In the video, filmed in 1954 when he received the Nobel Prize, he says, "I >am the first Cuban who receives this prize," referring to his special ties >to Cuban anglers. > >Raul Corrales presented a book of historic photos about the fishing town of >Cojimar and the writer. > >This homage preceded the 50th tournament that bears the writer's name. The >event will begin tomorrow and continue until May 21, with the participation >of some 70 vessels from more than 10 countries, including the US, >Yugoslavia, Peru, Guadeloupe and Grand Cayman. > >Marina Hemingway, located on the coast west of Havana, is an inner harbor >with more than 400 docks and 800 additional spaces for recreation vessels, >and includes a system of lodging, shops, restaurants and bars. JCT/CCS > > >FIRST YEAR OF REMODELED OLD "FLORIDA" HOTEL CELEBRATED > >by Roberto F. Campos > >HAVANA, May 16 (PL) The first year of major remodeling for one of the most >luxurious hotels in the old part of the capital, "The Florida," was >celebrated here with the presence of notables and journalists, tourism >sources reported. > >The Florida Hotel was originally a manor opened in 1836 by the Count of >Saint Ignacio and later, passed to the Count de More. In 1885, it became an >inn with the same name it has today. > >After some changes, it finally was dedicated to tourism, first as a >recreation information center, and after remodeling, reappeared as a 25-room >lodging, of which four are suites. > >In colonial style and furniture brought mainly from Spain, giving it a look >of elegance, it is on the corner of Obispo and Cuba streets, and operated by >Habaguanex S.A. company, in charge of tourism in that part of the city. > >The Hotel Public Relations chief, Ania Franco, told Prensa Latina they have >88 per cent occupancy this year and their guests come mainly from the US, >Spain, France and Great Britain. > >They work with travel agencies such as Havanatur, San Cristobal, Cuba Travel >(Canada), Aventura (Germany), British Airways (England) and Jet Tour >(Germany), and also have a large number of return guests each year. > >Among the hotel's many attractions are the Piano Bar and Floridiana >Restaurant, intimate, with polished service, and good-tasting food. > >Rooms contain all the amenities of a four-star hotel, and the most unique >characteristic is the silence and harmony found inside, while on the street >there is all the noise and people passing of Old Havana. 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