Cuba's Raul Castro unveils aircraft ownership reform

Published on Saturday, November 17, 2007

HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): Interim leader Raul Castro has unveiled arguably the most significant economic reform since taking the helm in communist Cuba, announcing that in some cases aircraft can be privately owned.

It is major news in a country that depends heavily on tourism to generate hard currency, though the announcement Thursday raised many questions without immediately delivering many answers.

Raul Castro, 76, the defence chief who took over July 31, 2006 when his brother Fidel Castro, now 81, stepped aside to undergo major intestinal surgery, is seen as a pragmatist, interested in Chinese and Vietnamese economic models.

The interim leader has changed some regulations by decree, changing customs duties payment rules and easing the importation of computers, videos and spare car parts.

But Thursday's announcement in the government's official gazette, almost a year and a half into his period of leadership, was the furthest-reaching to date, touted by the government as a move in the interest of Cuba's economic growth.

Fidel Castro hasn't been seen in public since his operation, but
maintained a political presence this year by publishing weekly
commentaries in Cuba's official newspapers. On October 14, he called in
during Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez' weekly television chat
program.

It was the first live audio appearance of the aging leader in 15 months.