Havanareporter YEAR VI

THE © YEAR VI Nº 5 MAR, 10 2016 HAVANA, CUBA avana eporter ISSN 2224-5707 YOUR SOURCE OF NEWS & MORE H R Price: A Bimonthly Newspaper of the Prensa Latina News Agency 1.00 CUC, 1.00 USD, 1.20 CAN Despite the Blockade, Cuba- U.S. Trade Relations Improve P. 6 Bright Future For Renewable Energy in Cuba P.14 Historic Meeting Between Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill in Cuba P.3 Cuba Health & Culture Economy Innovative Science Author and Journalist Brighter and Better Universities Essential Cuba Besieges Zika Stephen Kimber On Agriculture and For Sustainable Virus The Cuban Five Livestock Fair Development P. 4 P. 5 P. 10 P. 14 2 TOURISM Horse Auction In Aid of Breed and Environment By FranciscoMENÉNDEZ A purebred horse auction held recently in Cuba and raising parameters, as well as the standard raised 541,000 Euro for the improvement of growth curve for this breed. The objective is to horse breeds and the protection the country’s achieve a balance between growth indicators flora and fauna, according to a spokesperson and the food and care needed for each stage. for the National Enterprise for Flora and Fauna Carulla said that magnificent examples of Protection (ENPFF). this horse breed, both mported and Cuba- Held at Havana’s Equestrian Club on February born, can be seen at the Equestrian Club in 13, in the framework of the 7th Elite Jumping Parque Lenin, a recreational center on the Horse Auction, the event was attended by buyers outskirts of Havana. They are trained by local from Mexico, Guatemala, Peru and Panama. trainers and riders, and are sold at the Elite The auction is organized on a yearly basis Auction held every year in the capital. by ENPFF, a institution that belongs to the The horse named Grandeur, born to Cuban Agriculture Ministry, in conjunction Indorado and Cálido, was the best sold at the with Holland’s VDL-Stud and the participation recent auction, for 48,000 Euro. of the Alcona S.A. company and the Ecotur S.A. The event last three days and during the first travel agency. two potential buyers examine the conditions of Edgardo Carulla, a specialist with the ENPFF, the horses through veterinaries, horse keepers explained that the first purebred Holland horses and trainers. raised at VDL-Stud, one of Europe’s best horse Some horses sold at these auctions have raising centers, were brought to Cuba in 2005 won Pan-American and Central American (four mares and 14 three-year-old fillies). competitions, the ENPFF added. Every year, Carulla noted, the Rancho This Holland breed originally comes from Azucarero ranch in Artemisa province, welcomes the northern region of that country and has a large group of horses age two to three years. been conceived for developing equestrian These animals are trained and raised with the sport competitions. same care that they are given in Holland. The origin of this specimen is relatively The ranch already has 30 mares and two recent; a group of trainers and horse experts stallions to increase the breed numbers and wanted a horse with the attributes of modern applies insemination techniques using imported horse riding champions: elegant, strong, semen from the best purebred stallions in Europe. good bone structure and high performance, A team of specialists working on the ranch to be able to meet the new requirements for is in charge of supervising all morphological this sport. CUBA 3 Historic Meeting Between Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill in Cuba By Martha AndrésROMÁN institutions held their first ever private benefit to the future of both Christianity Our Lady of Kazan Cathedral in Havana, meeting, signed a 30 point joint and human civilization and he confirmed saying that despite theological differences declaration relating to current political that both bodied could work together between East and West, “we understand and religious issues and jointly called going forward. our joint responsibility for what happens on the international community to end The Bishop of Rome let it be known in the world”. violence and terrorism. that a number of viable iniciatives that He added that, “we are responsible for The highly important meeting, at could bear fruit were being considered. peace on earth; so that human beings with which the religious leaders appealed as For Fidel Castro, historic leader of the vast political and economic differences brothers for Christian unity to bring about Cuban Revolution, the singular significance learn to live in harmony and that no peace, was held at Havana’s Jose Marti of the meeting in Havana between Pope foreign policy conflict leads to the use of International Airport. Francis and His Holiness Kirill is the hope force with which to beat others”. Kirill, who was on an official visit to that it has evoked for the world’s people. Both leaders thanked Cuban President, Cuba and Francis, who made a stop-over Shortly after the Russian primate had Raul Castro --present for the signing of en route to Mexico, also referred to other ended his official visit on February 14, the joint declaration -- and the Cuban Vladimir Molina global problems such as the refugee crisis he said that, “There is no doubt that the people for hosting their meeting and and the unequal distribution of wealth. fundamental objective of Pope Francis, wished prosperity and well-being for the PHOTO: They stated that, “we cannot remain Pontiff of the Catholic Church and his Caribbean nation. Almost one thousand years since the indifferent to the plight of the millions of Holiness Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and Kirill stated that Cuba is a heroic country Great Schism of Christianity occurred refugees knocking on the doors of rich all Russia, is to prevent the unleashing of and the events at Jose Marti International in 1054, Cuba became the location on countries. brutal wars”. Airport represented an extraordinary January 12 last for an unprecedented “Unfetterd consumerism, typical of According to Fidel, the struggle for detail for the island of liberty. embrace between the Roman Catholic the most developed states, is rapidly peace is the most sacred duty for all The Pope, for his part, thanked the Church’s highest authority, Pope Francis exhausting the planets resources”. humanity, regardless of religion, country Head of State for his generosity and and Patriarch Kirill, leader of the Russian After signing the document, The of origin, color, age or youth. hospitality and considered that, if things Orthodox Church. Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia, told Kirill had referred to this responsibility continue as they are, Cuba would become The primates of both religious the press that the meeting would be of during a divine liturgy celebrated at the a capital of unity. Cuba-U.S: Scheduled Flights On The Horizon By CharlyMORALES Following three decades of charter only flight connections, economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed on Cuba and the U.S. have signed a memorandum of Cuba since 1962, despite worldwide rejection. understanding on the resumption of regular flights According to experts consulted by The Havana between the two countries, a further element in the Reporter, regular flights will facilitate the sale of trips to process towards the normalization of relations agreed by Cuba and enhance the range of options that can even, both governments. thanks to Global Distribution Systems (GDSS), be reserved Once in effect, the accord will facilitate up to 110 flights from home. per day to 10 Cuban destinations from different states Major airlines such as JetBlue, United, American Airlines, within the union, in addition to those offered by charter Delta and Southwest have expressed their interest in companies currently operating. opening routes to Cuba. The important memorandum was signed in Havana’s Cuban and U.S, airlines could also have commercial Hotel Nacional by U.S. Transport Secretary, Anthony Foxx cooperation agreements with shared codes and aircraft and his Cuban counterpart Adel Yzquierdo, who later met rentals involving third airlines. in private. The increased number of fights will mean a rise in the As this was taking place in Havana, the Department of numbers of visitors arriving in Cuba and a boom for the U.S. Transport in Washington authorized the opening of talks Miguel Guzman Ruiz tourist industry, even though U.S. citizens are still prohibited with airline companies interested in flying to Cuba. from traveling to Cuba. Each such airline could operate up to 10 regular flights PHOTO: Since the rapprochement between Havana and per day to any Cuban city with an international airport. Nevertheless, this agreement represents a giant step Washington commenced, there has been a 54% increase in These destinations presently are Havana, Camaguey, towards the normalization of relations announced on trips from the United States to Cuba and a 60% rise in the Cayo Coco, Cayo Largo, Cienfuegos, Holguin, Manzanillo, December 17, 2014. number of North American visitors. Matanzas, Santa Clara and Santiago de Cuba. The Cuban To date, Foxx is the fourth member of Obama’s cabinet Any further rise might put pressure on Cuba’s tourism aviation authorities are willing to listen to future requests to visit Cuba since the reopening of embassies. He followed infrastructure, which needs to work on improvements. to increase service levels. Secretary of State, John Kerry; of Trade, Penny Pritzker; and One step at a time and one flight at a time, distances However, such measures have not been reciprocated, of Agriculture, Thomas Vilsack. between both nations are becoming shorter, even though and aviation authorities in Washington have gone so far as Cuba has also received Congress members and the deepest and widest breach of all has still to be crossed, to rule out any possibility in the immediate future of Cuban Governors who – because they consider it to be obsolete the blockade that despite crumbling somewhat, still refuses aircraft flying to destinations in the U.S.

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