Fidel Castro Hosts Evo Morales who then Visits Maduro

HAVANA TIMES — Former Cuban President Fidel Castro met today in Havana with Bolivian President Evo Morales, and the two “talked about the bonds of brotherhood and growing cooperation between the two countries”, reported dpa news.

After leaving Cuba, Morales went to Caracas to meet with embattled President Nicolas Maduro before traveling home to La Paz.

“Fidel and Evo reminisced over important moments in the process of the progressive integration of our peoples and the role played, particularly by the unforgettable Hugo Chavez and Cristina Kirchner,” said an official statement read by an announcer on Cuba’s government run television.

During the meeting, the two exchanged views on the political situation in Latin America and “imperialist efforts to reverse the social political movement in the American region,” said the note.

The official statement said that Fidel Castro and Evo Morales “warned of the grave dangers that threaten human existence.”

So far no pictures were published of the meeting and no more details were made available, noted dpa.

Fidel Castro lives almost completely removed from the public spotlight at 89 years, although he often receives foreign personalities passing through Havana.  On May 10, he met with the Kuwaiti Ahmad al-Fahad al-Sabah, president of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) and considered one of the most influential sports leaders.

During his stay in Cuba that lasted little more than a day, Evo Morales also met with his counterpart Raul Castro with whom he reviewed the state of bilateral relations.

The two governments signed a framework agreement that seeks to promote cooperation in areas such as health, education, culture and the economy.

The agreement was signed by Bolivian Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca and Cuban Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment, Rodrigo Malmierca, in the presence of presidents Morales and Castro.

Evo Morales Meets with Nicolas Maduro on his Return Stopover

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro received his Bolivian counterpart Evo Morales on Saturday after Morales met in Cuba with Fidel and Raul Castro, reported dpa.

Morales made a stopover in Venezuela on his return trip from Havana to La Paz and held a private meeting with Maduro at the International Airport on the Caribbean coast near Caracas.

The Venezuelan leader said he spoke to Morales about his plans to confront the external threats, on a day when the Venezuelan armed forces carried out defensive military exercises.

Maduro told the press that he explained to Morales his agenda when Venezuela becomes the president pro tempore of the Mercosur trade block in July.

“As you know, Bolivia is in the final phase of its incorporation as a full member. I explained [to Evo] the goal of Venezuela to fight for the right to happiness of our people,” said Maduro.

“I said that Venezuela is preparing to defend social rights within Mercosur,” he added.

Maduro praised the “solidarity, the company and the advice” from Morales, also for being in constant communication to address threats “that exist against the revolutionary processes…”

At the same time, Morales said Maduro can count on both his support and that of the Bolivian people.

Evo said he was very sorry what happened in Brazil with the recent ouster of President Dilma Rousseff.

“The empire looks for any human rights record to intervene and take over our natural resources, but when we are united the people will continue the struggle,” said Morales. “You can count on the support of the Bolivian people and their social movements; we are a great anti-imperialist family,” he added.

Morales said he witnessed part of military maneuvers in Venezuela, which he described as a “great job” and at the same time expressed his respect for the Venezuelan armed forces.