ANITA SNOW
Published 2006-12-21 | Page
HAVANA (AP) - Raul Castro said he will delegate more and speak less than
his "irreplaceable" brother Fidel and, in comments published Thursday,
signalled a new leadership style that includes more openness to
divergent opinions.
The Communist Party newspaper Granma said Raul Castro, who took over as
Cuba's provisional president almost five months ago after his brother
underwent emergency surgery, told about 800 university leaders they
should "fearlessly" engage in public debate and analysis - expressing a
different leadership style than that of his 80-year-old brother.
The elder Castro, who underwent emergency intestinal surgery in July,
was Cuba's "Maximum Leader" for almost five decades, characterized by
meandering, hours-long speeches, unquestioned decisions and
micro-management of government programs and policies.
The younger Castro said that as Cuba's long-serving defence minister he
had learned to listen to and discuss differing ideas.
Raul Castro is largely seen as a pragmatist more likely to embrace
limited free enterprise than his brother, and in the past has expressed
interest in China's model of capitalist reform with one-party political
control.
"The first principle in constructing any armed forces is the sole
command. But that doesn't mean that we cannot discuss," he said. "That
way we reach decisions, and I'm talking about big decisions."
Raul Castro also echoed his earlier insistence that neither he nor any
individual could replace his brother. Although some Cuban officials have
insisted Fidel Castro will return to power, they privately acknowledge
that it is unlikely he will come back in the same all-powerful role.
"Fidel is irreplaceable, save that we all replace him together, each one
in his place" Granma quoted Raul Castro as telling the closing session
of Cuba's University Student Federation annual congress. "The only
substitute for Fidel can be the Communist Party of Cuba."
The 75-year-old Raul Castro also spoke of the need to promote younger
people to start taking over for Cuba's aging leaders, many of whom are
now in their 70s.
"We are finishing up the fulfilment of our duties and there has to be a
slow opening up to the new generations," he said.
When Fidel Castro addressed the same congress last year, he also spoke
of the need to nurture younger leaders for the future.
Cuba's unchallenged leader for 47 years, Fidel Castro announced on July
31 that he had undergone emergency intestinal surgery and was
temporarily ceding power to his younger brother while he recovered.
Last seen in public on July 26, his medical condition has been kept as a
state secret. The government has occasionally released official
photographs and videos of him since then, and he appeared thin and frail
in the last one seen in late October.
Cuban authorities have denied speculation by many, including U.S.
intelligence officials, that Fidel Castro is suffering from cancer or
some other terminal illness.
http://www.canadaeast.com/ce2/docroot/article.php?articleID=82820
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