Fidel Castro Hosts Visit by Algeria PM

HAVANA TIMES — Former Cuban president Fidel Castro received Algerian prime minister Abdelmalek Sellal at his home in Havana on Thursday, in another opportunity to show he is still active while behind the scenes in Cuban politics.

Castro has also met in the last month with several leaders including the prime ministers of Japan and China and the presidents of Iran and Guinea Bissau.

According to the official Cuban press, Fidel and Sellal reminisced about Cuba’s internationalist past of helping African countries including Algeria, in their independence and post-independence struggles.

Algeria is sending the island 515,000 barrels of oil this month to help offset the decline in shipments from Venezuela, Cuba’s main supplier with highly preferential terms.

While some observers believe Fidel Castro’s role in his brother’s government is limited to protocol, others believe he plays a key role in important foreign policy decisions and holds virtual veto power.  It was Fidel who bashed the Obama visit to Havana shortly after the US leader left the island.