http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/americas/01/22/cuba.castro/index.html?eref=rss_world
Jan 22, 2009.Castro 'reflects' on health, praises Obama
HAVANA, Cuba (CNN) -- Former Cuban President Fidel Castro said Thursday he doubts he'll still have the "privilege" of observing world events in four years, cryptically indicating awareness that he is drawing ever closer to death.
Fidel Castro, seen here in July 2006, praised Barack Obama in his essay.
Castro, 82, made the remarks in closing the latest edition of his "Reflections" essays that typically are posted on a government Web site the day before they are published in state newspapers.
The seven-paragraph essay discusses the inauguration and coming term of U.S. President Barack Obama in the
"I've had the rare privilege to observe events over a long time," Castro wrote. "I receive information and think about the events. I don't expect to have that privilege in four years when Obama's first term has finished."
After those words, Castro's signature appears, followed by the time -- 6:30 p.m. -- and the date, January 22, 2009.
Prior to Wednesday, Castro had not posted an essay since mid-December, and no photographs of him had appeared since November. Once the 50th anniversary of Cuba's revolution passed on January 1 with no comments from the revolutionary leader, rumors circulated that he had fallen seriously ill or perhaps had died.
Who: Fidel Castro
Where: Cuba
When: Jan, 22, 2009
Why: Because of Fidel`s health.
What: Fidel is afraid not to be able to see what Obama does during his presidency because of Fidel`s weak health.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7844600.stm
Jan 22, 2009.
Fidel praises Obama's 'honesty'
Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro has praised US President Barack Obama for his "honesty" but says he has many questions to answer.
Mr Castro broke a five-week silence, writing an opinion column on a state-run internet site.
The 82-year-old's silence, after months of column writing, had contributed to speculation about his health.
His brother, President Raul Castro, said earlier that Mr Obama "seemed like a good man" and wished him luck.
But he cautioned that the new
'Noble intentions'
Fidel Castro's essay on the www.cubadebate.cu site came hours after the president denied rumours that his health was worsening.
He did not give any reason for not writing columns, or "reflections" as he calls them, since 15 December, after averaging nine a month in 2008.
Mr Castro, whose Cuban revolution has survived 10
"I expressed that personally I had not the least doubt of the honesty with which Obama, the 11th president since 1 January, 1959, expressed his ideas, but in spite of his noble intentions there remained many questions to answer," he wrote.
Mr Obama has said he wants to meet Cuban leaders and improve US-Cuba relations. He has indicated he will ease restrictions on travel and remittances to
The Cuban president has also said he is willing to talk with Mr Obama, as long as there are no intermediaries and as equal parties to the dialogue.
If they met, it would be the first between leaders from the neighbouring nations in five decades.
Fidel Castro also confirmed that he had met Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner on Wednesday, near the end of her three-day visit to
President Fernandez said earlier that Mr Castro seemed healthy after she spent an hour of talks with him in
No pictures of the talks have yet been released.
Who: Fidel Castro
Where: Havana, Cuba
When: Jan, 22, 2009
Why: Because of Fidel`s health.
What: Fidel wants to meet Obma because he thinks he is a good man, even though Raul Castro says he is giving to much hope. Fidel wants to see Obama`s actions but his health might not let him.
Both news talk about Fidel wanting to see Obama`s progress with the U.S. He is afraid that because of his health he might not be able. The president of Argentina met him not long ago, an say that his health is "ok" but that he is 82 years old now and the risk keeps going up.
