News

Cuban President Raul Castro is expected to arrive in Russia on Wednesday for a week-long visit, confirmed the office of Russian President Dmitri Medvedev on Tuesday in a press release published in the local media. Medvedev visited Cuba in late November when he held talks with both Raul Castro and also met with Cuban leader Fidel Castro. A number of agreements are expected to be signed during Castro’s visit.

Cuba’s new social security law takes effect Monday after its approval at the end of December by the legislature. The new regulations increase the age of retirement by five years to 60 for women and 65 for men and will augment benefits in numerous cases. The law’s provisions will be implemented gradually over the coming years.

The authorities and inhabitants of Viñales Valley, a highly popular tourist area declared a World Cultural Landscape Site, are speeding up the restoration of the homes in that area 160 kms. west of Havana, most of which were affected in one way or another by Hurricanes Gustav and Ike.

Panama expects to export US $400 million in products to Cuba in 2009, up from around $180 million, as well as import at least two or three times the $28 million last year, stated Severo Sousa, vice minister of Commerce at the end of a bilateral meeting on services and investments. Earlier in the month Panamanian President Martin Torrijos paid an official visit to the island and met with President Raul Castro and other high officials.

Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque said Friday that the United States should take “the first step” on the road to improved bilateral relations, reported IPS. In statements to the press at a meeting of the Non Aligned Movement in Guatemala, the official said Cuban authorities are ready to sit down at a table and “talk in a civilized manner” but that the initiative for such an encounter should come from the US. “The ball is in their court,” he said.

Former Cuban President Fidel Castro said today in a written article that he is dedicating himself to reviewing his speeches and other materials, which will probably be used in his memoirs. In one of his Reflections published in the local media, Fidel praises the intelligence of US President Barack Obama. He also said that in 2009 he will write less to “not interfere or get in the way of the comrades from the Communist Party and the government” in their decisions.

Cuba is one of the 20 nations in the world that have ratified the Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage, established by UNESCO eight years ago, and has begun several conservation projects, reported IPS.

Gustavo Madero, president of the Mexican Senate, is in Cuba heading a delegation invited by the local parliament. Madero is scheduled to meet with high ranking government and Communist Party officials.

In Miami the police have been organizing for possible violence; in Cuba speculation abounds, the mainstream US press writes his epitaphs and former President Fidel Castro keeps them all guessing. He met for a half hour on Wednesday with Argentine President Cristina Fernandez, discussing Barack Obama’s inauguration speech and other international issues.

The Cuban government announced Wednesday the total elimination on import tariffs for Venezuelan products to further facilitate the extensive exchange of goods and services between the South American country and Cuba, reported IPS.