Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez meet

HAVANA – Cuban leader Fidel Castro and his Venezuelan counterpart, Hugo Chavez, met for four hours here on Saturday to discuss Latin America, world problems and bilateral relations, Cuban state television reported.

The official report, read during the evening newscast, said the two leaders focused ‘on the history of our two peoples, the solid and growing relations between Cuba and Venezuela, the situation in Latin America and the serious problems faced by humanity’. Castro shared with the Venezuelan president his recollections of Argentine-born revolutionary Ernesto Che Guevara, who was killed in Bolivia 40 years ago.On Sunday, Chavez will broadcast his weekly radio programme “Alo, Presidente” from the Cuban city of Santa Clara, where the remains of Che Guevara are interred.Chavez’s visit has given rise to speculation that Castro may somehow take part in the programme amid speculation about the communist leader’s health.The Venezuelan president also plans to meet with Raul Castro, who officially took over the reins of power in Cuba on July 31 2006, following his brother’s intestinal surgery.This is Chavez’s seventh visit to Cuba since Castro’s health crisis.The Venezuelan leader used each of these opportunities to speak to the public about the Cuban leader’s health.Authorities have remained tight-lipped about the communist leader’s exact condition.Castro, who survived several assassination attempts over the past decades, said shortly after his operation that his health must remain a ‘state secret’.Nampa-AFPCastro shared with the Venezuelan president his recollections of Argentine-born revolutionary Ernesto Che Guevara, who was killed in Bolivia 40 years ago.On Sunday, Chavez will broadcast his weekly radio programme “Alo, Presidente” from the Cuban city of Santa Clara, where the remains of Che Guevara are interred.Chavez’s visit has given rise to speculation that Castro may somehow take part in the programme amid speculation about the communist leader’s health.The Venezuelan president also plans to meet with Raul Castro, who officially took over the reins of power in Cuba on July 31 2006, following his brother’s intestinal surgery.This is Chavez’s seventh visit to Cuba since Castro’s health crisis.The Venezuelan leader used each of these opportunities to speak to the public about the Cuban leader’s health.Authorities have remained tight-lipped about the communist leader’s exact condition.Castro, who survived several assassination attempts over the past decades, said shortly after his operation that his health must remain a ‘state secret’.Nampa-AFP