8728: Radio Havana -- President Aristide to visit Cuba (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Max Blanchet <maxblanchet@worldnet.att.net>

*HAITIAN PRESIDENT TO PAY OFFICIAL VISIT TO CUBA

Habana, July 14 (RHC)--Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide will arrive
in Cuba on Monday for a four-day official visit at the invitation of Cuban
President Fidel Castro. This will be President Aristide's first official
visit to Cuba since his re-election last year.

Aristide will be heading a large delegation of government officials,
business executives, representatives from his country's cultural sector and
the press. During his stay, the Haitian President will hold official talks
with Cuban President Castro on issues related to the development of
bilateral relations.

Accompanied by his wife, Aristide will also tour different Cuban facilities
of social and economic interest, such as a Medical Faculty in Eastern
Santiago de Cuba city where a large group of Haitian students are studying
medicine.

The reestablishment of full diplomatic relations between Haiti and Cuba was
one of the last actions taken by Aristide during his first Presidential
mandate in 1996.

Cuba-Haiti bilateral relations have significantly developed. At present a
large number of Cuban professionals are working in Haiti in the areas of
public health, education, fishing, agriculture, the sugar industry, sports
and others. The Cuban medical contingent working in Haiti offers its
services to 65% of the Haitian population.