HAVANA // The former Cuba leader Fidel Castro has said his country could talk to the US president-elect Barack Obama, in Havana's latest overture to the incoming Democratic administration in Washington.
His remarks, made yesterday, followed comments from his brother, the president Raul Castro, who told a US magazine he could meet Mr Obama in a "neutral place" to try to end the Communist-run island's four-decade conflict with the United States.
"With Obama, talks could happen anywhere he wants," Fidel Castro, America's longtime Cold War enemy, wrote in the latest of a series of columns he has published in state-run media since falling ill in 2006.
"He should remember the carrot-and-stick approach will not work with our country," he wrote of Mr Obama. "The sovereign rights of the Cuban people are not negotiable."
Fidel Castro, who took power nearly 50 years ago after an armed revolution, has not been seen in public since undergoing surgery for an undisclosed illness in July 2006. But he has met several state leaders and appeared in photographs.
Mr Obama, who takes office on Jan 20, has raised hopes of improved US-Cuba ties by saying he was open to talks with the Cuban government and has favoured easing some US sanctions.
He has said he will reverse the US administration's policies restricting Cuban Americans from visiting Cuba and sending cash to their families. He is willing to talk to Castro but would keep the four-decade-old US trade embargo as leverage to influence changes in the one-party state.
Raúl Castro formally took over the Cuban presidency in February and has said several times Havana is willing to talk to the United States.
Before the US presidential election last month, Fidel Castro praised Obama as intelligent and humanitarian in the columns that have become his main form of communication.
Raul suggested in the interview he could meet Mr Obama in Guantanamo Bay, where the United States maintains a naval base, which Cuba considers a violation of its sovereignty.
*Reuters
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Day 2, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Pakistan’s effort in the field had hints of shambles about it. The wheels were officially off when Wahab Riaz lost his run up and aborted the delivery four times in a row. He re-measured his run, jogged in for two practice goes. Then, when he was finally ready to go, he bailed out again. It was a total cringefest.
Stat of the day – 139.5 Yasir Shah has bowled 139.5 overs in three innings so far in this Test series. Judged by his returns, the workload has not withered him. He has 14 wickets so far, and became history’s first spinner to take five-wickets in an innings in five consecutive Tests. Not bad for someone whose fitness was in question before the series.
The verdict Stranger things have happened, but it is going to take something extraordinary for Pakistan to keep their undefeated record in Test series in the UAE in tact from this position. At least Shan Masood and Sami Aslam have made a positive start to the salvage effort.
Who are the Soroptimists?
The first Soroptimists club was founded in Oakland, California in 1921. The name comes from the Latin word soror which means sister, combined with optima, meaning the best.
The organisation said its name is best interpreted as ‘the best for women’.
Since then the group has grown exponentially around the world and is officially affiliated with the United Nations. The organisation also counts Queen Mathilde of Belgium among its ranks.
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7.45pm: Jumeirah Classic Trial – Conditions (TB) $150,000 (T) 1,400m
8.20pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 – Group 2 (TB) $250,000 (D) 1,600m
8.55pm: Cape Verdi – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,600m
9.30pm: Dubai Dash – Listed (TB) $100,000 (T) 1,000m
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