Chavez visits Cuba on return from Mexico

Friday, January 16, 2004

HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez made a quick stop in Cuba on his way back from the Summit of the Americas in Mexico to visit with his friend Fidel Castro, Cuban state run television announced here.

"Chavez and our Commander in Chief exchanged information and news over several hours," a Cuban television anchor said, reading a brief statement.

The two leaders took advantage of the meeting to review cooperation agreements between Venezuela and Cuba, the statement added, noting that Chavez came along with his ministers of Education, Health and Communications.

The "brief visit gives us immense satisfaction following the brilliant and colossal participation of president Chavez and his delegation at the Monterrey summit," the statement read.

At his speech at the Monterrey summit, Chavez openly questioned Washington's policy in Latin America, including the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) project, and thanked Cuba for its help in the areas of health and education.

Chavez praised Cuba after US President George W. Bush blasted the Cuban "dictatorship" and urged leaders at the event to work for a transition of power on the island.

In December, Castro visited Venezuela for the third time since Chavez became president in 1999. 

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