The President of Cuba, Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz, better known as Fidel Castro, appeared healthier on Sunday in the first television footage of the Cuban leader aired in Cuba in four months. His health appears to be improving after a long recovery from several operations.
The new video showed Castro during a meeting on Saturday afternoon with Vietnamese Communist Party chief Nong Duc Manh. "Vietnam is a country that we will never forget," said Castro.
"It was not just one operation, but various," Castro wrote in a recent statement which the government also forwarded to international media by e-mail. "Initially it was not successful and that had a bearing on my prolonged recuperation."
"For many months I depended on I/Vs and catheters through which I received an important part of my nourishment," he said, adding: "Today I receive orally everything my recovery requires."
Castro, 80, also said he had stabilised his weight at about 80kg (175 pounds). He claims the main risks now remain his old age and his negligence with his health accumulated over the years.
"For now, I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing, reflecting and writing about questions that I judge of certain importance and transcendence," the latest one said. "I have a lot more material to go."
Fidel Castro led the revolution overthrowing Fulgencio Batista in 1959 and shortly after was sworn in as the Prime Minister of Cuba. He he became president of the Council of State as well as of the Council of Ministers in 1976. On July 31, 2006, Castro, after undergoing intestinal surgery, transferred his responsibilities to the First Vice-President, his younger brother Raśl Castro.
Now, Cuban leaders claim it's only a matter of time before Fidel Castro resumes his presidency.
Fabian Escalante, who was long tasked with protecting Castro has calculated the exact number of assassination schemes and/or attempts by the CIA to be 638. Some of these are depicted in a documentary entitled 638 Ways to Kill Castro.
