Asia-Pacific

Raul Castro comments on Cuba-US ties

Updated: 2006-08-19 10:02

In another move likely to be seen as an aggression by Havana, U.S. National Intelligence Director John Negroponte announced Friday he was creating a "mission manager" for Cuba and Venezuela to oversee the American spy community's efforts to collect and analyze intelligence on the two countries.

Castro took issue with a statement by President Bush a few days after his brother's illness was announced: that American officials "will take note of those, in the current Cuban regime, who obstruct your desire for a free Cuba."

And he criticized the U.S. "transition" plan for Cuba, which includes $80 million in government funds for opposition groups supporting democratic change in Cuba. "The bulk of it will be distributed in Miami, as is usually the case," he said.

Raul Castro has been at his brother's side since they launched the revolution with a 1953 attack against dictator Fulgencio Batista's military. As the No. 2 man in government, he's constitutionally designated to succeed his brother should Fidel Castro die or be permanently incapacitated.

He said he cared about what the Cuban people think, and noted his appearance on state television on Sunday, his brother's 80th birthday, to greet visiting Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez at the airport. He also appeared in photographs taken that afternoon with his brother and Chavez.

"As a point of fact, I am not used to making frequent appearances in public, except at times when it is required," the younger Castro said. "I have always been discreet, that is my way, and in passing I will clarify that I am thinking of continuing in that way."