© YEAR VIII THE Nº 10 MAY 31, 2018 HAVANA, CUBA ISSN 2224-5707 Price: avana eporter 1.00 CUC H YOUR SOURCE OF NEWSR & MORE 1.00 USD A Bimonthly Newspaper of the Prensa Latina News Agency 1.20 CAN Cuba, the EU Strengthen Photo Feature Cooperation Ties Cuba Promotes New Recreational Options for Tourists P. 11 Economy P. 3 Cuba to Focus on Inequality & the Caribbean Region as ECLAC President P. 14 Sports More Cuban Artes de Cuba Women in Politics Wins U.S. Capital Brazil & Argentina: The Face of Latin America in Russia P. 4 P. 6-7 P. 15 2 TOURISM Cuba Displays its Potential at Tourism Fair Text & Photos by RobertoF. CAMPOS HAVANA.- The Cuban authorities The Cuban minister expressed showed their capacity to recover from confidence in the development of the natural disasters and their flexibility to go tourism industry in the country, because into businesses during the 38th edition of its safety and potential. of the International Tourism Fair FITCuba Marrero described FITCuba as a 2018. successful meeting in which several Held in Cayo Santa María, in the business opportunities were launched. In central province of Villa Clara, the fair this sense, he referred to the E (Encanto, allowed participants to approach a wide Charm) Hotel chain, which inaugurated range of businesses and learn about the the Palacio de Arena and Hotel Sagua Cubans’ endeavor to develop the tourism facilities during the fair. The latter is one of industry, considered the driving force of the most luxurious hotels of the territory. the national economy. After the impact of hurricane Irma, Safety, a variety of attractive infrastructures and service are being recreational modalities, the country’s improved, he added. landscapes and the Cubans’ kindness, In spite of the obstacles Washington were included among the main topics has in place against Havana from the raised at the meeting. economic and commercial points of The participants especially highlighted view, 73 officials of U.S. tourist companies the feeling of safety prevailing in the participated in the event, including the country as one of the essential topics to Marriott chain. guarantee a sustainable development in The Cuban hotel industry is composed this field. of 69, 041 rooms at present – 63 percent Different topics were dealt with during of which are four and five-star hotels and the fair, where participants expressed 74 percent are located on the coast. admiration at the recovery actions About 110, 416 people work in the conducted on the island after being hit Cuban tourism sector. Of this figure, 41.2 by hurricane Irma last September, which percent are women and 48 percent are affected 85 percent of the tourist facilities. under the age of 45. As announced, the 39th edition of the In 2017, the country received 4, 689, International Tourism Fair, to take place 896 foreign visitors, which represented May 7-11, 2019, will be dedicated to Spain an 11.6 percent increase over the as the guest country of honor. Cuban previous year. However, in the first eight Minister of Tourism Manuel Marrero months of 2017, the island experienced commented that in 2019, Havana will a 26 percent increase, a figure that celebrate its 500th anniversary. The city decreased because of hurricane Irma in was founded on November 16. September. Marrero also explained that FITCuba The United States, Russia, Italy and 2018, held from May 2-5, was attended by France were the markets that experienced 319 participants from 62 countries. This the highest growth, though Canada figure includes 168 specialized journalists continues being at the top, with 1, 134, from all over the world. 225 visitors. A Bimonthly Newspaper of the Prensa Latina News Agency SOCIETY.HEALTH & SCIENCE.POLITICS.CULTURE THE YOUR SOURCE OF NEWS & MORE ENTERTAINMENT.PHOTO FEATURE.ECONOMY HavanaReporter SPORTS.AND MORE President: Luis Enrique González. Graphic Designers: Paola A. Gonzalez Publisher: Agencia Informativa Latinoamericana, Information Vice President: Hector Miranda. Chief Graphic Editor: Francisco Gonzalez Prensa Latina, S.A. Editorial Vice President: Lianet Arias Advertising: Javier García Calle E, esq. 19 No. 454, Vedado, La Habana-4, Cuba. Chief Editor: Luis Melian Circulation: Commercial Department. Telephone: (53)7838-3496 / 7832-3578 Translation: Dayamí Interian / Yanely Interian Printing: Imprenta Federico Engels Fax: (53)7833-3068 E-mail: [email protected] CUBA 3 Cuba, the EU Strengthen Cooperation Ties By LuisaMariaGONZALEZ PARIS.- Cuba and the European Union extraterritorial impact that affects (EU) strengthened their cooperation European banks and companies. ties during the first Joint Council in The Cuban minister appreciated Brussels, headed by Cuban Foreign the traditional stance the EU has Affairs Minister, Bruno Rodríguez, and adopted against the blockade, a head of the EU diplomacy, Federica siege that has been applied for over Mogherini. 60 years. The meeting, whose significance On the relations with the EU, he was highlighted by both parties, was remarked that the conditions are held after the Political Dialogue and favorable to continue increasing Cooperation Agreement became ties, and added that both sides have effective on November 1st, 2017. shown “the capacity to build spaces The latter was signed by Havana and for dialogue and mutual cooperation, Brussels in 2016 in order to create a and the determination to favor the framework for improved bilateral elements that join us over those that relations. make us different.” At the conclusion of the Council, Mogherini stressed at a NEW COOPERATION press conference the importance AGREEMENTS of the agreement, which “will now The main results of the EU-Cuba provide new opportunities to foster Joint Council included the signing of investment and trade exchange, a cooperation agreement aimed at and will allow to better support the promoting renewable energies in the Cuban economic and social updating Caribbean nation. process, as well as to contribute to its During the meeting, both parties sustainable development.” signed the agreement which will Mogherini also described the allocate 18 million Euros towards the agreement as “ a historical and development of power generation on positive step” that has allowed taking the island through clean energies. relations between Cuba and the The High Representative of the EU European bloc to a higher level. diplomacy also noted that another For his part, Rodríguez denounced agreement is being negotiated in the the blockade imposed by the United field of food safety and sustainable States against his country, which agriculture, and to support exchanges “continues to be the main obstacle as part of the European Year of for the full development of economic Cultural Heritage. and commercial ties between the EU According to the European and Cuba.” Commission, the EU nations are at He added that the government present the main foreign investors in of President Donald Trump has Cuba, from which they import goods strengthened the implementation amounting to 471 million Euros, and of that hostile policy, especially in to which they export goods totaling the financial field, with a strong over 2 billion Euros. Internet PHOTOS: 4 SOCIETY More Cuban Women in Politics By MartaDENIS HAVANA.- The new organs of the Cuban Lawyer Ana María Mari Machado, 54, People’s Power, the Municipal, Provincial was elected Vice President of the National and National Assemblies, as well as the Assembly, and Miriam Brito Sarroca, 57, Council of State membership, show that was ratified as the ANPP secretary. more Cuban women are taking part in A total of 79 women are members of political decision-making. the People’s Power organs (24.5 percent), The electoral process started last 37 are presidents of the people’s councils year and concluded with the election of (constituencies) and 8 are presiding the new members of the People’s Power over their respective People’s Power National Assembly (ANPP), which is the Provincial Assemblies for the 2019-2023 supreme power of the State, as stipulated term. by the Cuban Constitution. The Council of State, which is the The National Assembly, the only supreme representation of the Cuban body in Cuba that is vested with both government, is presided over by Miguel constituent and legislative authority, Díaz-Canel. It also consists of one first represents the Cuban people’s sovereign vice president and five vice presidents, will and its members are voted on every of whom 3 are women –one serving for five years, the Constitution explains. another term. Of the other members of Established on April 18 and 19, the the Council of State, 12 are women –five ninth legislature consists of the 605 serving for the second time. members elected on March 11, 2018, of which 322 are women, accounting for WHO ARE THE WOMEN IN THE 53.22 percent. This is an unprecedented COUNCIL OF STATE? Leydimara de la CaridadCÁRDENAS event in the history of the Cuban Among the reelected women are Parliament. Teresa María Amarelle Boué, 54, president The youngest of them all, Leydimara of the Federation of Cuban Women, and de la Caridad Cárdenas Isasi, a 19-year- Susely Morfa González, 35, president old technician and district delegate, read of the Young Communist League. the parliamentarian deputies’ oath. Meanwhile, the newly elected members Different generations of Cuban include hammer thrower, Yipsy Moreno women are represented in the new González, 37, one of the country’s Parliament, whose average age is 49 sporting figures. (13.66 percent are under 30); while 87.5 In addition, important Cuban percent are university graduates and 51.8 ministries continue to be headed by are black and mixed-race women. women. The new Council of Ministers Additionally, 55.59 % of them are will be announced before the National constituency delegates and 66.14 were Assembly during an ordinary session elected for the first time.