• Submitted by: admin
• Caribbean
• culture an traditions
• Destinations
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• personalities
• South America
• Politics and Government
• 12 / 14 / 2008

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Raúl Castro arrived in Venezuela for an official visit on Saturday, at the invitation of Hugo Chávez. The visit is designed to deepen relations between the two countries, which are described as excellent.

In a brief exchange with the press, the Cuban leader recalled that he visited Caracas about 55 years ago, when he came as a student to pay homage to Simón Bolívar -- noting that he was in Venezuela again to do the same.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez personally met his Cuban counterpart at the airport in Caracas Saturday morning, saying that it was an honor to welcome Raúl to Venezuela and, through him, "to welcome Fidel Castro and the Cuban people." Chávez added that by welcoming Raúl, he was also welcoming the rebel fighters of the Sierra Maestra who overthrew dictator Fulgencio Batista 50 years ago.

After laying the wreath at the tomb of Simón Bolívar, the two presidents began official talks at the Miraflores Presidential Palace in Caracas.

Following his visit to Venezuela, the Cuban president will continue on to Brazil to take part in the Latin American and Caribbean Summit on Integration and Development, which will take place in Salvador de Bahía on Tuesday and Wednesday, the 16th and 17th of December.

(RHC)