>
>Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit
>
>Prensa Latina
>DIRECT FROM CUBA
>19 May, 2000
>
>Cuba:
> -PERSONALITY OF JOSE MARTI HIGHLIGHTED DURING ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATION
> -CHANGES IN THE CUBAN MINISTERS CABINET ANNOUNCED
> -CUBA IN FAVOR OF UNCONDITIONAL RELATIONS WITH EU
> -CUBAN FISHERIES MINISTER MEETS WITH CHINESE OFFICIALS, BUSINESS LEADERS
> -CUBAN OIL PRODUCTION THIS YEAR REACHES FIRST MILLION TONS
> -CUBA WILL HOLD 9TH CUBAN NURSES' CONGRESS
> -MARADONA'S TREATMENT "GOING WELL"
> -ENVIRONMENTALISTS FROM 20 NATIONS TO MEET IN CONGRESS OF THE AMERICAS
>
>USA:
> -CUBA CAUTIOUS ABOUT EVENTUAL US MEDICINE AND FOOD SALE
> -MAD ABERRATION TO RETAIN ELIAN IN THE US
> -VIEQUES: FIGHT AGAINST US NAVY TO CONTINUE
>
>Region:
> -SINGLE LATIN AMERICAN CURRENCY STILL FAR IN THE FUTURE
> -ATTEMPTED PARAGUAYAN COUP D'ETAT FAILS
> -OEA OBSERVERS SATISFIED WITH VENEZUELAN ELECTION PREPARATIONS
>
>Arts & Culture:
> -CUBA GIVES 20 FLAMINGOS TO TORONTO ZOO
> -CUBAN ACTRESS ISABEL SANTOS WILL FILM WITH HUMBERTO SOLAS
> -CUBAN ELISEO DIEGO POETRY COLLOQUY
> -PACO RABAL CONFIRMS ROLE IN FILM ON LUIS BUNUEL
>
>
>PERSONALITY OF JOSE MARTI HIGHLIGHTED DURING ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATION
>BY ROBERTO MOLINA
>
>HAVANA, May 19 (PL) As part of the Cuban population's efforts for the
>liberation of the child Elian Gonzalez, over 7,000 capital youth
>commemorated the 105th anniversary today of national hero Jose Marti's
>death.
>
>President Fidel Castro attended the event, who has participated
>-sometimes as spectator and at others as activist- in the process denouncing
>the five-months of injustices in the case of the six-year-old child
>illegally retained in the United States.
>
>The ceremony took place at the Jose Marti anti Imperialist Tribune, located
>exactly in front of the US Interest Section offices on the Malecon sea
>drive. The Tribune plaza was inaugurated April 3 as the setting for the
>protest demonstrations and speeches by Havana citizens for the child's
>liberation and end to the Cuban Adjustment Act.
>
>Today's ceremony opened with the unveiling of a bronze statue of Jose Marti
>grasping a child with his right arm and extending his left arm with index
>finger pointing at the US offices.
>
>The author of the work, sculptor Andres Gonzalez, could barely contain his
>emotion as the statue was uncovered in a corner of the plaza. This is my
>modest contribution to Jose Marti's anti imperialism and the Cuban people's
>demands for Elian Gonzalez' return home with his family to his country,
>Gonzalez said.
>
>Fidel Castro personally gave the membership document written by the
>Communist Youth League to one thousand students who just joined the
>organization.
>
>Jose Marti National Library Director Eliades Acosta spoke about the
>coincidence of Marti's death anniversary and the 150th anniversary of the
>first hoisting of the Cuban flag.
>
>Telling the story of the single-star flag, Acosta emphasized the way this
>symbol has been present in all battles by Cubans when fighting for
>independence and liberty.
>
>Many patriots have died in the history of the Island, but none has ever
>surrendered the flag, he stressed.
>
>Representatives of the students also talked about the ephemeredes.
>
>Ricardo Alarcon, president of the National Assembly of People's Power
>(Parliament), Carlos Lage, Council of Ministers Executive Committee
>secretary and other top officials of the Cuban Communist Party, the State
>and the government, as well as leaders of social and mass organizations,
>attended the event. GM/CCS
>
>
>CHANGES IN THE CUBAN MINISTERS CABINET ANNOUNCED
>
>HAVANA, May 19 (PL) One of the veteran ministers in the Cuban Cabinet,
>Ricardo Cabrisas, Minister of Foreign Affairs, was assigned as Minister of
>Government, and his position in Foreign Affairs will be filled by Raul de la
>Nuez Ramirez, a Council of State report announced today.
>
>De la Nuez Ramirez for many years has had important responsibilities in the
>nickel industry and was vice minister of the Basic Industry Ministry.
>
>He was also executive president for five years of the joint company managing
>the production of nickel and cobalt business in Cuba and Canada.
>
>The official report declares that in his new responsibility, Cabrisas will
>have important tasks related with Cuban international activities. JCT/CCS
>
>
>CUBA IN FAVOR OF UNCONDITIONAL RELATIONS WITH EU
>
>Havana, May 19 (PL) Cuba is in favor of a mutually advantageous relationship
>with the European Union (EU), but without political conditions, said an
>official source, who also ratified Cuba's collaboration with Lome Convention
>signature countries.
>
>Asked about Cuba's refusal to enter the Lome convention, which permits
>advantageous relations with Europe and 71 countries from Africa, the
>Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP), Cuban Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson
>Alejandro Gonzalez reiterated Cuba's will to maintain good relations with
>the EU and the ACP.
>
>"It wasn't Cuba who broke up the dialogues for cooperation with the EU. We
>are in favor of a mutually advantageous relationship with Europe, but we
>will not accept, under no circumstance, questioning or demands which limit
>our sovereignty", he stated.
>
>Gonzalez criticized procedures by some European countries that in interposed
>political conditions in the group negotiations with the Caribbean country in
>a "discriminatory and unfair way".
>
>According this spokesperson, there are governments unable to design a policy
>towards Cuba outside the margin of US dictates, and used as an example the
>recent and "hypocritical European vote" at the UN Human Rights Commission on
>a condemnation resolution to Cuba.
>
>He alluded to the comprehension and solidarity of ACP countries towards
>Cuba's decision of putting an end to negotiations for its entry on Lome
>Agreement.
>
>Cuba will always support ACP fair positions and claims, and it wishes more
>than ever to deepen its integration and collaboration with the Caribbean and
>the Third World, said the Ministry representative. FVS/CCS
>
>
>CUBAN FISHERIES MINISTER MEETS WITH CHINESE OFFICIALS, BUSINESS LEADERS
>
>BEIJING, May 19 (PL) Cuba's Fishing Minister Orlando Rodriguez Romay spoke
>with Chinese authorities and business people about replacing the Cuban
>Merchant Fleet and aspects of shrimp-culture, agua-culture and
>marine-culture official sources informed here today.
>
>Rodriguez Romay arrived in Beijing Thursday on an official visit to China
>that includes a tour of Shangdong province.
>
>Sources of the delegation told Prensa Latina that Rodriguez Romay exchanged
>ideas with Chinese Agriculture Minister Chen Yaoban about technologies,
>development and diseases and their control, among other topics related to
>the raising of seafood.
>
>The delegation also met with Foreign Affairs and Economic Cooperation vice
>Minister Sun Zhenyu, officials of the CMC corporation and bank officials
>about topics related to the replacement of the Cuban Merchant Fleet,
>reported the sources.
>
>The delegation led by Rodriguez Romay traveled Friday to Yantai in Shangdong
>province and will visit the shrimp-culture zone of Haiyang district Yantai's
>Maritime Fishing Company tomorrow.
>
>Sunday they will hold talks with managers of Yantai fishing bureau and visit
>a fish-breeding farm near Beijing. JCT/CCS
>
>
>CUBAN OIL PRODUCTION THIS YEAR REACHES FIRST MILLION TONS
>
>HAVANA, May 19 (PL) Cuban oil industry hit a record in oil extraction,
>reaching 1 million crude oil tons accumulated production by mid-May,
>reported Manuel Marrero, Cuban Ministry of Basic Industry's chief oil
>specialist. The higher increases are due to the development of hydrocarbon
>fields located on Cuba's northern coast.
>
>The 200-kilometer northern region extends from Guanabo (Havana City) to
>Corralillo (Villa Clara), with important oil in Varadero, Puerto Escondido,
>Boca de Jaruco and Yumuri's fields, the latter discovered last year.
>
>Specialized sources pointed out that horizontal perforation techniques were
>used in some of these areas permitting extraction of undersea crude oil
>deposits from oil wells on land, without investing in expensive equipment
>for submarine production.
>
>The forecasts for this year's oil extraction is 2.8 million tons (one ton is
>seven oil barrels), to which is added a little more than 600 million of
>natural gas, used in power generation and domestic consumption.
>
>Marrero said exploration by CubaPetroleo (CUPET) and foreign firms continues
>in some blocks (oil divisions of the national territory) to find the crude
>oil. They expect to produce over 4 million oil tons next year.
>
>Regarding the use of the Cuban oil (considered heavy due to its density),
>CUPET begin to refine part of its production mixed with imported light crude
>oil in Cuban refineries.
>
>At present, Cuban hydrocarbon covers 55 per cent of power needs on the
>Island. It is expected this figure will reach 70 per cent before the end of
>2000. AJS/CCS
>
>
>CUBA WILL HOLD 9TH CUBAN NURSES' CONGRESS
>
>HAVANA, May 19 (PL) One thousand Cuban and foreign licensed nurses will meet
>in Havana May 31-June 3 for the Society of Cuban Nursing 9th Congress Cuban
>Nurse's Society Congress.
>
>Silvia Gomez Castro, RN (equivalent title) Scientific Committee Program
>president, told press the will exchange experiences and ideas on health
>professional training in their countries, the nursing situation in Latin
>America and its development in Cuba.
>
>Personnel training, health policies, education and nursing principles,
>tendencies and perspectives will be examined in roundtables as well as a
>conference with a group of Cuban nurses who have collaborated in Latin
>America and Africa.
>
>Together with Spain's Nurses' Development Foundation, awards will be given
>for the first time for the best scientific presentations.
>
>Castro reported the Second Nursing Students Congress will be meeting
>simultaneously beginning June 1st where Cuban and foreign youths will
>exchange on scientific student work, integrity as a fundamental principle in
>students' training, the role of students organization and work specialty
>opportunities.
>
>A Cuban colloquy on nursing research will be held June 3-4 to examine
>strategy and policy for developing nursing research, and obtaining Master's
>of Science degrees.
>
>Collateral to these activities will be visits to specialized centers such as
>the Latin American School of Medicine, the only one of this kind in the
>world, she concluded. IFF/CCS
>
>
>MARADONA'S TREATMENT "GOING WELL"
>
>HAVANA, May 19 (PL) - Former soccer star Diego Armando Maradona's treatment
>is going well according to doctors, noted Cuban Foreign Affairs Ministry
>spokesperson Alejandro Gonzalez in his traditional weekly press conference.
>
>Asked by international media about Maradona's health improvement, Gonzalez
>stated "we love him... and I suppose he'll stay here until his treatment
>ends or he has fully recovered." Havana medical sources had confirmed that
>Maradona will participate in a May 26 farewell match in Munich, Germany in
>honor of German Lothar Matthaeus.
>
>The spokesperson remarked that "all we wish for him [Maradona] is a speedy
>and total rehabilitation. He is very well now, according to the medical
>report we received." Since January Maradona has been in a detoxification
>program at the health hotel "La Pradera", where a medical staff is carefully
>monitoring his heart, which suffered the consequences of his drug addiction.
>JCR/CCS
>
>
>ENVIRONMENTALISTS FROM 20 NATIONS TO MEET IN CONGRESS OF THE AMERICAS
>
>Havana, May 19 (PL) Analysis of atmospheric pollution influences on climate
>and human health are the main themes at the Conference of the Americas on
>Air and Health Quality, in Havana from May 23.
>
>Reinaldo Diaz Veliz, MS, organizing committee president, pointed out that
>participants from 20 countries will attend this conference from May 23 to
>May 27, to design a concrete program for the region, to improve air quality.
>
>Veliz said sanitary engineers, physicians, geographers, and environmental,
>meteorology, and biology specialists will share their cities' experiences
>regarding air and health quality.
>
>Chemical and biological contamination, indoor pollution (buildings and
>hospitals), self-propelled transportation as a pollution source, air quality
>related to climate changes and everything that could create environmental
>situations or variants in a locality, as well as its repercussion on
>populations are among topics for discussion.
>
>Veliz referred to the beginning of a primary environmental attention program
>in the '80s to investigate patient-environment relationship, an experience
>that extended to other countries. FVS/CCS
>
>
>USA:
>
>CUBA CAUTIOUS ABOUT EVENTUAL US MEDICINE AND FOOD SALE
>
>HAVANA, May 19 (PL) Cuba will not raise false hopes about possible US food
>and medicine sales and repeated its demand to Washington to totally and
>unconditionally remove the economic, financial and commercial blockade, Cuba
>Ministry spokesperson Alejandro Gonzalez stated yesterday at a national and
>international conference.
>
>Answering questions about US Congressional Committee approval of two
>regulations authorizing food and medicine sale to Cuba and other countries,
>Gonzalez recalled similar failed US proposals.
>
>"We should not be surprised if such initiatives do not take effect, since we
>are accustomed to non democratic methods on the part of certain Congress
>people, mainly Florida's terrorist Mafia legislators," he declared.
>
>According to the spokesperson, announced measures "going in the right
>direction", are the expression of majority US public opinion, for whom the
>use of food and medicine as political weapons is immoral.
>
>We have a positive appreciation of the expressions of US public opinion and
>the country's important and influential sectors on this topic, he added.
>
>The case of Elian Gonzalez, retained in the US since last November caused
>the US population to understand that country's absurd political policy
>against Cuba according to Alejandro Gonzalez.
>
>They confirmed Havana's repeated denunciations of many US maneuvers to
>prevent proper bilateral relations chiefly by the Cuban American National
>Foundation created by former Washington governments and become the Executive
>jailer, he commented.
>
>We are paying the necessary attention to the food and medicine matter, but
>what we urge is the total an unconditional removal of the blockade and
>rectification for over 40 years of aggression and hostile policy, he
>emphasized.
>
>Gonzalez highlighted the blockade's obstinate character and considered the
>analysis of possible food and medicine sale is the result of legislative
>efforts inspired in public opinion and important US economic sectors, also
>victims of Washington's siege of Havana.
>
>Congressional Committee initiatives must be approved by the majority of the
>Senate and House to take effect. DIG/CCS
>
>
>MAD ABERRATION TO RETAIN ELIAN IN THE US
>BY LAZARA RODRIGUEZ ALEMAN
>
>HAVANA, May 18 (PL) Maneuvers of the ultra rightwing linked to the
>Miami-based Mafia, to retain Cuban child Elian Gonzalez, were considered as
>a mad aberration by journalists at a roundtable discussion on the child's
>continued retention in the US.
>
>According to the analysts, the obstinate obsession of those factors to
>insist that Elian stay in the US is now manifesting as a resort to the most
>absurd pretexts.
>
>The US ultra rightwing is now giving a distorted image to those things,
>which for Cubans symbolize the purest values of patriotic feeling taught to
>children and youth.
>
>Cuban children wearing a scarf around the collar of their school uniform as
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