Cuban minister says Castro well, thanks Vietnam on embargo
HANOI - Cuba's foreign minister said ailing President Fidel Castro is well enough to participate in government decisions and thanked Vietnam for help to 'break' the US-led economic embargo against the communist country.
'President Fidel Castro is recovering very well, recovering steadily and constantly. He has regained his weight and has been doing exercises,' Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque said during an official visit to Vietnam on Friday.
Castro 'has directly heard reports on the nation's works, and has directly participated in making decisions on some important issues,' Roque said.
The 80-year-old Cuban president turned over day-to-day power to his brother Raul last July after undergoing surgery and remains in hospital
Roque thanked Vietnam for its economic help after meeting Friday with Pham Gia Khiem, Vietnam's deputy prime minister and foreign minister.
'We once again thank Vietnam for its support for Cuba to break the embargo against Cuba,' Roque said. 'That's the largest obstacle to our development.
Communist-run Vietnam - which has been booming thanks to embracing market reforms - has been a leading supplier of rice and other foodstuffs to Cuba, which is still isolated and poverty- stricken in the face of the US-led embargo of Castro's communist regime.
Khiem pledged to continue economic and political cooperation and welcomed the news of Castro's health, saying 'That is very happy news for our people.'
Castro visited Vietnam in 2003 and was welcomed in a barrage of communist solidarity.
Roque was visiting Hanoi as part of an Asian tour and held talks in preparation for an upcoming visit to Havana by Vietnam Communist Party leader Nong Duc Manh.
Deutsche Presse Agentur - April 13, 2007.
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