Fidel Castro discloses brother's words to Obama
Fidel Castro discloses brother's words to Obama
By ANDREA RODRIGUEZ, Associated Press | December 19, 2013 | Updated: December 19, 2013 1:01pm
HAVANA (AP) — Cuban President Raul Castro introduced himself to President Barack Obama in English at Nelson Mandela's funeral, telling him, "Mr. President, I'm Castro," as the two leaders shook hands.
That's according to Castro's brother, Fidel, who broke months of silence Thursday with a lengthy editorial in state media discussing Cuba's ties to Mandela and his brother's trip to South Africa for his funeral.
The Dec. 10 handshake set off speculation in the U.S. and Cuba about whether it signaled a warming of ties between the two nations after decades of animosity. U.S. and Cuban officials dismissed that, calling the handshake a mere courtesy.
In his 2,400-word essay published Friday on the front pages of Cuba's government-run newspapers and websites, Fidel Castro congratulated his brother for his "steadfastness and dignity, when, with a friendly but firm gesture, he greeted the head of the U.S. government and told him in English, 'Mr. President, I'm Castro.'"
More:
http://www.chron.com/news/politics/article/Fidel-Castro-discloses-brother-s-words-to-Obama-5078473.php