>from: [EMAIL PROTECTED]> >subject: Cuba Press release 154,55,56 > FOR ALLDIPLOMATIC MISSIONS >HAVANA,WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 02, 2000. NSA > >HAVANA.- Cuban President Fidel Castro handed over the flag at the >Latin Americano Stadium yesterday to two young Cuban teams >(categories under 19 and 15-16 years old), who will shortly compete >in Canada and Mexico. During the ceremony, the Cuban President spoke >briefly to the players participating in the youth world championship >in Edmonton, Canada and the (15-16yrs.) Monterrey Pan American games. >Humberto Rodriguez, Cuban National Sports Institute (INDER) President >highlighted the Cuban players' high standard of training for both >tournaments. > >HAVANA.- Cuban experts yesterday denounced, both nationally >and internationally, links existing between enemies of the Cuban >revolution and reelected Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez' opponents. >In a TV program, Barbara Betancourt of Radio Habana Cuba radio >station explained how elements in Cararcas tried to exploit the >personal links between Chavez and Fidel Castro and attempted to use >them against Chavez during his presidential campaign in Venezuela. >She also recalled that since Chavez' trip to Havana in 1994, the >Venezuelan authorities expressed their bad feeling regarding >statements he made allegedly wanting to impose the Cuban system in >Venezuela. Betancourt cited passages from meetings between >Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez used to the detriment of the Venezuelan >President's image. > >HAVANA.- Cuban journalists and researchers yesterday analyzed in >Havana the results of the Venezuelan presidential elections carried >out on Sunday, which concluded with the re-election of President Hugo >Chavez. From 18:00 (local time) at Cuban T.V. studios, experts >discussed the elections which gave a 59.5 percent majority of valid >Venezuelan votes to the political movement headed by Chavez. On >Tuesday, the Cuban press highlighted the happiness that the triumph >of the Venezuelan President occasioned on the Island. Hugo Chavez is >a close friend of the Cuban people and its leaders. . > >HAVANA.- President of the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific states (ACP >Group) Council of Ministers Anicet-Georges Dologuele will arrive in >Cuba today on a working visit, according to local press information >yesterday. At the invitation of Cuban President Fidel Castro, >Dologuele will travel to Cuba accompanied by a full delegation of >Ministers from various countries, and ACP Group top officials. The >Group was founded in 1975 with the signing of the Georgetown >Agreement. This visit will be an excellent opportunity to exchange >top level opinions between the Cuban government and the ACP >Group, and to develop and strengthen friendship and solidarity ties, >states Granma daily on its front page. > >HAVANA.- Cuban Foreign Trade Minister Raul de la Nuez and Jamaican >Foreign Trade Minister Anthony Hilton yesterday analyzed in Havana >possibilities of increasing bilateral exchange, worth US$ nine >million in 1999. The Cuban Minister received his Jamaican >counterpart, whom he thanked for Jamaica's support to Cuba during the >recent partial trade agreement signed between the Island and the >Caribbean Community (CARICOM). De la Nuez emphasized that exchanges >held between Jamaican business people at Havana's Expocaribe and >International Fairs contribute to the increase in bilateral >trade relations. > >BEIJING.- The first 13 containers with cloth for Cuban primary >and secondary school uniforms were yesterday sent to the Island from >a port in the Chinese province of Hebei. Ambassador Alberto >Rodriguez Arufe, and Trade Advisor Roberto Torres participated in >the shipment's departure as part of the celebrations for the 40th >anniversary of the establishment of Cuba-Chinese relations. Both >officials traveled to Shijiazhuang, capital of Hebei, invited by the >Overseas Economic corporation, which signed a contract five years ago >with the Cuban Education Ministry to provide cloth for primary and >secondary school uniforms. > >HAVANA.- Fishing Industry Ministry (MIP) officials yesterday praised >Cuban aquicultural development and stated that the year 2000 plan for >the sector will be exceeded. The 90,000 tons of fish planned for the >year will be surpassed, and new species with excellent growth, >conversion, quality and taste will be introduced into the country, >commented official newspaper Granma. With a catch of 50,000 tons of >fresh water fish, this year's plan has been fulfilled by more than >100 percent. > >WASHINGTON.- Head of the "Movimiento Democracia" mafia organization >Ramon Saul Sanchez was yesterday formally accused in a Miami, Florida >court of contempt and illegal gatherings relating to demonstrations >carried out in the case of Cuban child Eli�n Gonzalez. The boy was >rescued from the sea after the vessel in which he was illegally >travelling to U.S. territory sank. In the accident, his mother and >other people died. Sanchez, who has been on trial before for >violations in Cuban territorial waters, could receive a one year >prison sentence for each charge, if found guilty. >DPTO.INFORMACION/ MINREX > > ********** > >from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >subject: Cuba Press release 155 >PRESS RELEASE NO. 155 DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS >HAVANA, THURSDAY, AUGUST 03, 2000. NSA > >HAVANA.- The province of Pinar del Rio, western Cuba, is preparing >the festivities and political meeting with which celebrations for >Cuban National Rebellion Day will conclude. The decoration of Pinar >del Rio's neighborhoods, and inauguration of an exhibition at the >Provincial History Museum related to the date are taking place in the >province, which together with Havana City and central province Villa >Clara, is venue for July 26 celebratory events. Annually on this day, >Cuba remembers the attacks on Moncada and Carlos Manuel de Cespedes >Barracks, eastern Cuba, carried out by young rebels under Fidel >Castro's command. This action occurred in the summer of 1953 and >unleashed the social movement that six years later ended General >Fulgencio Batista's dictatorship. Batista was responsible for >over 20,000 deaths on the Island. > >HAVANA.- For the third consecutive day, the Cuban press is >highlighting Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez' triumph during >Sunday's elections in Venezuela. Granma daily calls Chavez' victory >historic and overwhelming. The Venezuelan leader obtained 59.4 >percent of valid votes "in spite of the opposition's slanderous >campaigns and destabilization policy", encouraged both inside and >outside the country. Juventud Rebelde weekly points out that >yesterday, Chavez urged his opponents to accept defeat and hand >over the power they lost at the elections. > >HAVANA.- President of Africa, Caribbean and Pacific states (ACP >Group) Council of Ministers Anicet-Georges Dologuele said yesterday >in Havana that Cuba is a great country and is taken into >consideration by this regional forum. Dologuele stated that the goal >of his visit is to meet Cuban authorities and inform them of ACP >Group members' support in their wish to join the group. The ACP >allows us to speak with one single voice regarding the products we >sell to northern countries and also development problems. Cuba and >the ACP discuss these themes in the same way, assured Dologuele, who >is also the Central African Republic's Prime Minister. He is in >Havana at the official invitation of Cuban President Fidel Castro, >and is accompanied by a full ACP representation. > >HAVANA.- The Cuban Olympic Committee (COC) announced its satisfaction >but disagreement yesterday with the International Amateur Athletics >Federation (IAAF)'s decision that allows world high jump star Javier >Sotomayor to compete in Sydney 2000. COC president Jose Ramon >Fernandez highlighted that the news is good because "Soto" can now >participate in the 26th Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. "However, we will >continue showing our disagreement because the decision does not >recognize Sotomayor's innocence, as should have happened. This only >reduces the sanction unfairly imposed on him". > >SEVILLA, SPAIN.- International Olympic Committee (IOC) president >Jose Antonio Samaranch called world high jump record holder Cuban >Javier Sotomayor's Participation in Sydney 2000 as excellent news. >"This is great news. I am very happy", exclaimed the IOC president. >"The Sydney 2000 Olympic games have gained a high level athlete, >because Sotomayor is a man who has jumped over 2.30m, and recently >jumped 2.31 in Havana. He is a candidate to win the gold", >Samaranch told Spanish press. > >MONTECARLO.- World high jump record holder Cuban Javier Sotomayor >can compete in the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, the International >Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF) council decided yesterday in >Montecarlo. IAAF spokesman Giorgio Reineri said the sanction was >reduced to one year because of "exceptional circumstances", but gave >no further details. Sotomayor, currently training in Havana, can now >officially compete in this year's Olympics. Two other doping cases - >German Dieter Baumann and Hungarian Judit Szekeres - will be >analyzed by the IAAF arbitration panel. > >HAVANA.- Cuban high jumper Javier Sotomayor yesterday appeared in >public for the first time just hours after the IAAF Executive >Committee reduced his sanction for alleged doping to one year. >Sotomayor attended yesterday's TV round table discussion on the >history of the Olympic Games and Cuba's participation in the four >yearly summer games. > >HAVANA.- Guillermo de la Torre, trainer of world high jump record >holder Javier Sotomayor, explained yesterday that the athlete "does >credit to Cuba and world athletics". Shortly after being informed of >the International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF) decision to >reduce the previous two-year sanction to one, de la Torre stated that >this organization "made the right decision in defending him. It >studied his career and behavior both in and out of the stadium. >Sotomayor is a great athlete. We are following our plan as if nothing >had happened. We were optimistic that justice would win", he added. > >HAVANA.- Figures on the mass participation of people in sports >activities show that Cuba constitutes the only possible alternative >for the healthy practice of sports in an over commercialized Olympic >context. In yesterday's Cuban TV round table discussion, Granma daily >journalist Oscar Sanchez demonstrated that 2,989,549 people currently >and systematically practice sports. Sanchez remarked that there is a >first world sports structure on the Island, where more than 11,000 >multi level sports facilities are available for people. In schools - >base of Cuba's high performance structure - more than 30,000 physical >education graduates contribute to promote activities. > >HAVANA.- Cuban biologist and researcher Jose Ramon Cuevas, host of >the TV program "Entorno", died yesterday in a traffic accident in the >eastern province of Camaguey. The small bus in which Cuevas was >travelling was hit by a freight train at a railway crossing. >According to the National News Agency (AIN), there were two other >victims: Edgar Hernandez, 30, and an unidentified person. Among the >seven injured are two children, now in Camaguey's Pediatric Hospital. >Preliminary police reports show that the accident took place in the >afternoon, when the bus driver did not stop at the signal crossing, >and was hit by the train. > >WASHINGTON.- U.S. federal authorities have dismantled a network of >illegal Cuban immigrant smugglers in Miami, U.S. by detaining nine of >its members, according to local press yesterday. Sources informed >that Florida's district attorney announced those arrested could >receive up to 20 year prison sentences. The detainees are Fidel >Soler, Juan Wilfredo Morales, Adalberto Navarro, Osvaldo Juan >Rodriguez, Yenny Rodriguez, Jose C. Gonzalez, Jorge Luis Fleitas, >Bernardo Nieves and Roberto Nieves. This last person was released on >Tuesday night after bail was set at US$ 50,000 bail. >DPTO.INFORMACION/ MINREX > > ************ > >from: [EMAIL PROTECTED]> >subject: Cuba Press release 156 > FOR ALL DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS >HAVANA, FRIDAY, AUGUST 04, 2000 > >HAVANA.- Cuban President Fidel Castro talked to French artist Jean >Pierre Raynaud, who has given the country's arts authorities a Cuban >flag painted by him. Thursday's Granma daily highlighted the meeting >and included on its cultural page a photo of the Cuban President and >Raynaud with the work of art, at Havana's Revolution Palace (Palacio >de la Revolucion), headquarters of the Communist Party (PCC) and >Government. Jean Pierre Raynaud (b. Courbevoie 1939) told the paper >that on meeting Fidel Castro, he confirmed "an intuition he had about >a man who has brought poetry to politics". > > HAVANA.- With strong conviction, we have come here to say that Cuba >has potentialities which the Group of African, Caribbean and Pacific >(ACP) states is interested in, said ACP Group Council of Ministers >President Anicet-Georges Dologuele yesterday. During a meeting with >the press, Dologuele - Central African Republic's Prime Minister, who >is also Minister for Economy, Finances, Planning and International >Cooperation - explained that he brings a message of support for Cuba >from the ACP Group Council of Ministers to enter the block. On >Thursday, as part of his program, Dologuele visited the Latin >American School of Medicine in Havana. He also met Cuban Foreign >Affairs Minister Felipe Perez Roque; Cuban Foreign Trade >Minister Raul de la Nuez and Cuban Minister for Foreign Investment >and Economic Collaboration Marta Lomas. > >CARACAS.- Venezuela and Mexico yesterday signed an extension to the >San Jose Pact for supplying oil to Central American countries for one >more year, during a ceremony where Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez >requested the agreement be extended to include Cuba and other nations >of the area. Chavez and his Mexican counterpart Ernesto Zedillo >simultaneously signed the document by satellite connection. The >agreement offers benefiting states up to 25 percent finance of the >price of crude oil, and credits enabling cooperation in carrying out >projects of economic development. The renewed pact began yesterday, >on the 20th anniversary of its original signing in the Costa Rican >capital. MANAGUA.- Nicaragua's Army chief General Javier Carrion >travelled to Cuba on Thursday for a three day official work visit, at >the invitation of the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces Ministry >(MINFAR). A Nicaraguan National Army Public Relations press release >published in Havana yesterday states that Carrion will return to >Managua on August 7. > > HAVANA.- A National Rebellion Day event, to be held in less than 24 >hours in Cuba's western province of Pinar del Rio, will be the reason >for carrying out tasks of larger importance, highlighted Juventud >Rebelde weekly. Maria del Carmen Concepcion, Pinar del Rio Cuban >Communist Party (PCC) first secretary told the paper that the meeting >will be fresh encouragement to increase the war of ideas to a higher >level with a more united and strengthened people. HAVANA.- Armando >Mendez, Governor for the Brazilian state of Amazonas, arrives in >Havana on August 7 for an official visit, at the invitation of the >People's Power National Assembly (Parliament). Mendez heads a wide, >representative delegation consisting of well known figures from the >state, journalists and Cabinet members who will carry out an intense >work agenda in Havana City until August 9. The program >includes signing a letter of intent for business with the Biological >Pharmaceutical Laboratories company. Amazonas will receive a US$ 45 >million tender this year, with one hundred percent Cuban products. > > HAVANA.- Jamaican Foreign Trade Minister Anthony Hilton yesterday >concluded his working visit to Cuba after meeting Cuban Tourism Vice >Minister Marta Maiz, and giving a press conference on the results of >the mission. Yesterday, Hilton held a meeting with Cuban Vice >Minister for Foreign Investment and Economic Collaboration Raul >Taladrid, discussing possibilities to reinforce cooperation between >both countries. During the meeting, Hilton and Taladrid's discussions >included reinforcing production and supply for tourism, and joint >investments in this and other sectors. HAVANA.- The ominous >consequences of the world wide professional practice and >commercialization of sports were denounced in Havana yesterday in a >T.V. debate. Officials from Cuba's National Institute of Sports, >Physical Education and Recreation (INDER) declared that there are >associations around the world that invest lots of money to attract >athletes, using them to increase their profits. > > BUENOS AIRES.- All Argentina's sports press yesterday highlighted >the International Athletics Federation (IAAF) decision which allows >world high jump record holder Cuban Javier Sotomayor's participation >in the Sydney Olympic Games. MANAGUA.- Nicaraguan press media >underlined in its sports programs and pages yesterday the return of >Cuban high jumper Javier Sotomayor, who is now able to take part in >Sydney, Australia's Olympic Games. > > MEXICO.- Mexican sports press highlighted the IAAF decision to >reduce the sanction against Cuban high jump star Javier Sotomayor, >thus allowing him to participate in Sydney's Olympic Games. > >MONTEVIDEO.- Cuban athlete Javier Sotomayor set a new record for >mentions in the Uruguayan media - his name and picture was seen in >the main sports headlines - after the decision allowing him to >compete in Sydney was made known. > > RIO DE JANEIRO.- Photos and the destinies of Cuban high jumper >Javier Sotomayor and Brazilian discus thrower Elisangela Adriano >appeared together, illustrating both happiness and discontent at the >decision which reduced their sanctions for alleged doping. The IAAF >agreement which will allow Sotomayor and Elisangela to participate in >Sydney's Olympic Games, had large coverage in the written press, as >well as radio and television. >DPTO.INFORMACION/MINREX " JC > > __________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi ___________________________________ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe/unsubscribe messages mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] ___________________________________
