[NYTr] Fidel's TV Interview Makes International Headlines Date: Wed, 6 Jun 2007 21:36:39 -0500 (CDT) Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit Agencia Cubana de Noticias (AIN) http://ainch.ain.cu/mailman/listinfo/ingles Fidel's TV Appearance Makes Headlines Havana, Jun 6 (acn) The recent TV broadcast of a video-taped interview of Cuban president Fidel Castro showing a remarkable improvement in his health, was highlighted by the Argentine press this Wednesday. The El Mundo section of the Clarin newspaper featured an article on the recovery of the Cuban president, stating that he seemed to be very well-recovered and coherent, reported Prensa Latina news agency. The Argentine newspaper commented on the nearly one hour-long dialogue with Randy Alonso, host of The Round Table TV program. The Cuban leader mostly spoke about the recent visit of the head of the Communist Party of Vietnam to Cuba and about his health condition. "I am doing what must be done and nothing more, since there are no secrets," Fidel said referring to his medical treatment. The Cuban leader also referred to protests in Germany just before the arrival of George W. Bush for the G-8 Summit and promised to speak more about the issue in the future. A report from AP also noted how much stronger and healthier Fidel appeared than in previous occasions. *** Mail & Guardian Online (S.Africa) - Jun 6,2007 http://www.mg.co.za/articlepage.aspx?area=/breaking_news/breaking_news__international_news/&articleid=310550 Castro gives first TV interview since surgery Fidel Castro appeared alert and upbeat in his first television interview since falling ill last year, but he gave no hint of a possible return to power. The Cuban leader spoke with passion about various subjects for almost 50 minutes in an interview broadcast on state television on Tuesday, granting the world its first proper look at the communist icon since he disappeared from public view 10 months ago. Wearing black trainers and an Adidas tracksuit in the Cuban national colours, his convalescence trademark, Castro was far more robust than the spectral figure glimpsed in previous brief clips. He appeared to enjoy being back in the limelight but there was no disguising his frailty and a sense that he remains detached from day-to-day government. The 80-year-old devoted much of the interview to Vietnamese development statistics and other arcane topics. He engaged only briefly with international issues and did not say if or when he would resume ruling Cuba. He said he was focused on recuperating. "I tell my compatriots, I'm now doing what I should be doing. There are no secrets." He praised his improved diet but warned he was not fully recovered. "There are dangers that threaten the health of a human being. I don't want to disappoint." The interview was recorded on Monday at an undisclosed location. The furniture appeared similar to previous footage, suggesting he may be at the same hospital that has treated him for months. Randy Alonso, the host of the government's nightly Round Table programme, asked gentle, open-ended questions that the veteran leader answered at length, often straying into unrelated topics -- a habit from the marathon speeches he used to give. A meeting last weekend with the general secretary of Vietnam's communist party, Nong Duc Manh, prompted Castro to reminisce about the humidity he experienced during a wartime visit to Vietnam. "How hot it was. It was like you jumped in a pool with clothes on." Speaking slowly and distinctly, he consulted a notebook while reeling off statistics about Vietnam's rice and coffee harvests and praising its modern toilets. Later he talked about coffee production, solar energy and food security. He made just one fleeting reference to United States President George Bush in the context of a summit on energy and global warming. Some analysts said Castro's focus on the past rather than the future was part of the government's strategy to signal that the succession had happened and that "el maximo comandante" was now to be viewed as an elder statesman and a talisman, but not a chief executive. After almost half a century dominating his Caribbean island, and being a thorn in Washington's side, Castro ceded power to his brother Raul last July to be treated for what is thought to be diverticulitis, a weakening of the intestine. He has not appeared in public since, but has made a choreagraphed return to visibility: he sipped orange juice in a brief video in January, phoned his Venezuelan ally Hugo ChC!vez in a radio programme in February. He strolled with the novelist Gabriel GarcC-a MC!rquez in a photo published in March and meet a Chinese delegation in a brief April video. Castro has also recently started penning articles that have criticised biofuels, British nuclear submarines and Bush. Analysts have been left guessing at how much influence Castro now wields over Raul. Four years younger than his more famous brother, the acting president has kept the country calm during Fidel's absence and has hinted at economic reforms to alleviate grinding poverty. B) Guardian News and Media Limited 2007 *** The Telegraph (UK) - Jun 6, 2007 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/06/07/wcuba107.xml Castro gives no hint of return By Alex Spillius in Washington Fidel Castro yesterday gave his first interview since withdrawing from power because of ill health 10 months ago, but offered no clue if he would ever rule Cuba fully again. Castro, 80, looked pale and his voice was hoarse, but he appeared relaxed as he sat dressed in a red-white-and-blue tracksuit chatting with an interviewer on state-controlled television. "A human being's health is always facing threats, lurking dangers, but we've been doing all the things that needed to be done," the veteran Communist leader said. Castro has been recovering in hospital since he underwent gastrointestinal surgery and handed over power to his brother Raul. At the time it was predicted that he would either die or be severely incapacitated for the rest of his life. He has however sufficiently recovered his health to suggest he will retain at least an influential back-seat role in the Caribbean island, which he has led since 1959. Although he has not appeared in public since the operation, he started a busy stretch of editorial writing in March. Yesterday's pre-recorded interview dealt mainly with information about the visit last weekend by Nong Duc Manh, the Vietnamese Communist Party leader. *** News.com.au - Jun 6, 2007 http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21863871-1702,00.html Get out of your trackies, Chavez tells Castro By staff writers and AFP HE may be the role model for leftist dictators everywhere but the stylings of Fidel Castro, and his new penchant for tracksuits, has left at least one admirer less than impressed. Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez urged his idol to resume wearing his customary military uniform instead of the trackies he has sported since having surgery last year. "I believe the time has come to return to wearing the uniform," said Mr Chavez, a staunch supporter and protege of Castro. "We want you in uniform ... That's an order," he joked. Since he underwent gastrointestinal surgery 10 months ago and handed over power temporarily to his brother Raul, Castro has given up his traditional olive-green military garb. Yesterday, the veteran leader of the Cuban revolution - who turns 81 in August - appeared in his first television interview since his operation wearing a red, white and blue tracksuit. Despite his horror at the Cuban leader's fashion no-no, The Venezuelan President cheered Castro's television appearance. "Fidel, I congratulate you for your interview on television. He spoke for four hours, almost a speech," said Mr Chavez, alluding to the Cuban leader's habit of delivering long-winded talks lasting several hours. The interview aired on television lasted a little less than an hour. * ================================================================ .NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems . Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us . .339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org .List Archives: https://olm.blythe-systems.com/pipermail/nytr/ .Subscribe: https://olm.blythe-systems.com/mailman/listinfo/nytr ================================================================