HAVANA, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Cuba's President Fidel Castro has said his country could keep up its campaign of mass public demonstrations for the return of Cuban shipwreck victim Elian Gonzalez for ``at least 10 years'' if necessary.
``In the United States, they think we will get tired, but we have reserves for at least 10 years,'' the 73-year-old Cuban leader said Friday night in a speech to economists at a Havana conference on ``Globalization and Development Problems.'' Excerpts were published by Cuban state news agencies
Saturday.
For more than two months, the 6-year-old boy has been in the middle of a politically charged custody battle between his father in Cuba, backed by Castro's government, and Miami relatives supported by anti-Castro Cuban exiles there.
Elian was rescued off Florida on Nov. 25 after surviving the sinking of a boat carrying 14 Cubans. His mother and 10 others drowned and Elian was taken in by the Miami relatives.
To press for his return, Cuba's government has organised almost daily rallies. The latest, in the south-central port city of Cienfuegos Saturday, was expected to involve more than 100,000 Cubans, organisers said.
Speaking to the economists, Castro said Cuba's campaign for Elian was not just ``the battle for a child.'' ``It's the battle for the rights of all the children in the world,'' he said.
Returning Friday night from 10 days in Europe, Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez said that several European governments supported Cuba's efforts to get Elian back.
He said France, Italy, Russia, San Marino and Spain had all made clear that they believed the boy belonged with his father.
14:05 01-29-00
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