Published Saturday, May 5, 2001in the
Miami Herald
HAVANA -- (AP) -- Fidel Castro, breaking with his recent practice of
sticking to the Western Hemisphere, heads off today to the Middle East and Asia.
He will spend three days in Iran -- like Cuba, a country the United States
says sponsors international terrorism.
Algeria, Iran and Malaysia all said Cuba's leader was indeed coming. Cuba's
communist government, ever mindful of its president's security, almost never
announces Castro's travel schedule in advance.
Castro also may visit Qatar on the Arabian Peninsula across the gulf from
Iran. Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Pérez Roque said during a visit to
Qatar in February that Castro likely would visit there this year.
Such a big trip is rare these days for the 74-year-old Cuban leader, who has
now been in power for 42 years.
Castro's travels over the past decade have been concentrated largely in the
Western Hemisphere, mostly for regional summits in Latin America and the
Caribbean.
He did visit South Africa for Nelson Mandela's inauguration as president in
1994, and went to both China and France in 1995.
Castro's current far-ranging tour begins today in Algeria. The Cuban
president has made numerous visits to Algeria in the past, particularly in the
1970s.
After three days in Algeria, he travels on Monday to Iran. Castro will make
his first official visit to Malaysia on May 11-13.
Copyright 2001 Miami Herald | 