Cuban
FM dispels rumors about Castro getting worse
Yahoo!
News.
BRASILIA, 24 (AFP) - Cuban Foreign Minister
Felipe Perez Roque Thursday said President
Fidel Castro was still recovering from his
operation last year and was keeping busy,
having personally instructed him on his
visit here.
While attending the Forum for East Asia
Latin American Cooperation (Fealac), Roque,
in an interview with AFP, dispelled rumors
about the Castro's health taking a turn
for the worse since his 81st birthday on
August 13.
Castro, who after stomach surgery a year
ago handed over power to his brother Raul,
"is steady, on track with his recovery,
showing discipline, a lot of dedication
and a lot of activity, writing, reading
and working," Roque said.
Although the communist leader has not appeared
in public for more than a year, he has appeared
in photographs and eight videos. The last
video was shown June 5.
He continues "in process of recovery,"
Roque said.
"In particular, he keeps in constant
touch with the leaders of Cuba's (Communist)
Party and government," he added.
Asked if Castro was still in charge of
Cuban affairs, Roque said: "Exactly,
he is being informed and consulted constantly
and works all the time."
Roque said he was in Brasilia for the Fealac
forum at Castro's personal behest: "He
gave me instructions to take part here in
this meeting."
Cubans held some hope Castro would make
a public appearance during his birthday
celebrations 10 days ago, or that his close
ally and friend, Venezuelan President Hugo
Chavez, would turn up for a surprise visit.
Neither event took place, and amid growing
rumors that Castro had taken a turn for
the worse or, perhaps, had even died, Chavez
said Sunday in Caracas that "Fidel
is producing ... writing ... I spoke with
him on his birthday."
Meanwhile, Castro, in his 39th article
of a series published in official Cuban
newspapers since late March, took a harsh
look Thursday at what he called the "perfidious"
policy of the United States.
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