International Event on Globalization Begins in Havana

HAVANA, Cuba, March 2 (acn) The 11th International Encounter of Economists on Globalization and Development Problems that begins on Monday in Havana will be the most important of its kind held so far.

"The current global economic crisis makes it the most important so far," said the president of the organizing committee, Roberto Verrier.

According to Verrier, some 1,500 delegates from 60 countries as well as representatives from 27 international institutions, including the United Nations and a special envoy from the President of the UN General Assembly, will participate in the meeting.

Other important personalities that will take part in the event include Dominican President Leonel Fernandez and his Honduran counterpart Jose Manuel Zelaya as well as US Nobel laureates for Economy Robert Mundell, Robert Engle and Edmund Phelps.

Verrier added that 10 presidents of Central Banks, almost 20 Ministers of Economy, the UNESCO Deputy Director and the President of the ALBA (Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas) Bank are also in Havana for the meeting.

"We will analyze the topic of the global economic crisis in two working sessions, on Monday and Tuesday. Then, on Wednesday, we will discuss ways in which social movements and economists from developing countries can contribute to facing this crisis," Verrier explained.

According to the president of the organizing committee, other topics to be discussed include trade, the Doha Round, ALBA and regional integration.

The 11th International Encounter of Economists on Globalization and Development Problems will conclude next Friday.

(Desde hoy el mayor encuentro internacional de economistas )

Dominican President Travels to Cuba on Monday

HAVANA, Cuba , March 2 (acn) The president of the Dominican Republic , Leonel Fernandez Reyna, travels on Monday to Cuba for an official visit at the invitation of his Cuban counterpart, Raul Castro.

According to a note published by Granma news daily on Monday, this visit will contribute to strengthening and broadening of the historic friendship and cooperation ties between the Cuban and Dominican peoples.

During his stay in Cuba, the distinguished visitor will hold official talks with Raul Castro and he will participate in the 11th International Meeting of Economists on Globalization and Development Problems.

He will also visit places of social, scientific and historic interest in Havana and Santiago de Cuba.

(Viaja hoy a Cuba el Presidente de República Dominicana)

ALBA Member Countries Create Permanent Commission

HAVANA, Cuba , March 2 (acn) The member countries of the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA), the bloc that is working for regional integration and cooperation in Latin America and the Caribbean, have approved the creation of the Permanent Commission of this
organization.

The agreement was reached during a recent session in Caracas, Venezuela, of the 8th Meeting of the ALBA Political Commission that was attended by delegations from Cuba , Bolivia , Dominica , Honduras , Nicaragua and Venezuela .

According to Granma news daily, the creation of the Permanent Commission is another important step towards the realization, in a speedy and effective way, of projects and initiatives that contribute to the sustainable development of the ALBA member nations under the principle of solidarity.

Venezuelan Deputy Foreign Minister for Latin America and the Caribbean Francisco Arias Cardenas said that this new body will monitor and will contribute to the implementation of projects and it will also make recommendations to the Political Commission.

(The ALBA Permanent Commission will be chaired by Venezuela for the first
two years. )

Haitian Government Delegation in Cuba for Working Visit

HAVANA, Cuba , March 2 (acn) The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Culture of the Republic of Haiti , Alrich Nicolas, is headsing a delegation from his country that is in Havana for a working visit.

The visiting delegation includes the Minister of Sports, Youth and Civic Service, Evans Lescouflair; the Minister of the Interior and Territorial Communities, Paul Antoine Bien-Aime; and the Minister of Public Health and Population, Dr. Alex Larsen.

According to Granma news daily, the visitors will hold meetings with their respective Cuban counterparts and other Government and State leaders.

In addition, they will meet with Haitian students in Cuba and will visit places of historic and social interest in Havana and Santiago de Cuba .

(En Cuba Canciller haitiano en visita de trabajo)