Lula, Fidel agree on global crisis 100%

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula says that he agreed "100% " with Fidel Castro on rich country's economic responsibility.  "I spoke with Fidel about the crisis and there is 100 percent agreement on the major responsibility of rich countries," Lula said at the airport before leaving Cuba after a brief visit on Thursday.  "President Lula said that Fidel was very lucid and active," added a representative traveling with the Brazilian leader.  The Brazilian president arrived in Cuba on Thursday and held talks with Raul Castro.  Lula also met former Cuban leader, Fidel Castro in a brief visit at an undisclosed location. Fidel Castro has not been seen in public since a health crisis in July 2006. Lula "renewed the invitation" to Fidel Castro for a first-ever integration and development summit for Latin America and the Caribbean on December 16 and 17 near Salvador de Bahia. "We are pleased to learn that finally his Excellency (Castro) will travel to Brazil to participate in the first meeting of Latin American and Caribbean nations, without interference from any other power," Lula said during an inauguration ceremony for a Brazilian business venture in Havana. SG/HAR, Original source at PressTV

CUBAN President Raúl Castro last night received President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil, who is making a brief visit to our country.  The two leaders congratulated each other on the positive development of bilateral relations in diverse fields and exchanged views on issues of regional, multilateral, and international interest.  Raúl informed the distinguished visitor of the principal challenges facing our country, particularly focusing on the progress of recovery tasks following the hurricanes.  Lula, for his part, confirmed his government’s will to continue its contributions in order to alleviate the situation, one of the main aims of this, his second trip to Cuba this year. He likewise renewed his invitation for the Cuban president to visit Brazil and to attend the Latin America and Caribbean Summit on Integration and Development, scheduled to take place December 16 and 17 in Salvador, the capital city of Bahía state.  Accompanying the Brazilian president are Edison Lobão, Orlando Silva and Franklin De Souza Martins, ministers of mines and energy, sport and head of the social communications department, respectively; Marco Aurelio García, head of the Special Advisory for International Affairs in the President’s Office, and Bernardo Pericás Neto, the Brazilian ambassador in Cuba. Translated by Granma International