Fidel Castro voices opinion about US-Cuba ties publicly in article

World Today

Fidel Casto, the leader of the Cuban revolution, has finally spoken publicly about the recent renewed ties between the United States and Cuba. In a long letter to the Cuban Student’s Federation published in the official newspaper Granma, Castro backed the negotiations, but urged caution. CCTV America’s Michael Voss reported this story from Havana.

Fidel Castro’s words come more than a month since U.S. President Barak Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro made their historic joint announcement to restore diplomatic relations. Since then, negotiations have taken place in Havana last week, with disagreements but also a concerted effort to press ahead to re-open embassies.

“I don’t trust the policy of the United States,” Fidel Castro wrote, “But this does not mean I reject a peaceful solution to the conflicts… We will always defend cooperation and friendship with all the people of the world, including with our political adversaries.”

Fidel Castro came to power in 1959 at the height of the Cold War. The U.S. broke off diplomatic relations with Cuba, enforced a trade embargo, and tried to overthrow him by various means.

In the end, it was ill health that forced him to step down in 2006. Now titled “Historic leader of the Revolution”, Fidel Castro’s opinions still carry great weight in Cuba.

“This mistrust of his about the United States is something difficult to erase from your mind, after so many years of punishment and threats,” one Cuban resident who did not give a name said about the latest pronouncements.

Prior to the letter, there had been no word from Fidel Castro, prompting a flood of new rumors, including some speculating that the aging revolutionary had died.

“I feel more relaxed now because our commander in chief, our eternal leader, has given his opinion. He has no political post but his views on the United States are important,” another Cuban resident who did not give a name said.