Fidel Castro Follows Cuba Summit Preparations

In a press conference that followed the inauguration of Havana’s new press center, specially set up for the Sept.11-16 summit, Perez Roque pointed out that the leader of the Cuban Revolution officially presides over the Cuban delegation to the meeting, seconded by First Vice President Raul Castro.

Perez Roque said that the Cuban head of state will welcome some of the foreign visitors to the summit including UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, who is coming on observer status.

The Cuban foreign minister said the summit, which begins with two days of sessions of high level officials, will boost the struggle in defense of the rights of developing nations and strive to preserve the UN Charter and impede the dismantling of a positive legacy after World War II.

Despite the end of the cold war and the contradictions between two superpowers, the Non-Aligned Movement has an important role to play in today’s world, said Perez Roque.

The foreign minister said that after a deep and mature debate, the Non Aligned nations have concluded that today’s world poses risks and obstacles which are even greater than before for the majority of humankind. He added that "we have the will to strengthen and revitalize the movement, that is the decision of the Havana Summit."

Perez Roque informed that everything is ready for the gathering in political, logistic and organizational terms.

He noted that 115 out of 116 Non-Aligned nations have confirmed their attendance to the summit and that more than 50 heads of state and government will head their respective delegations to the event, while a dozen delegations are being headed by vice-presidents and deputy prime ministers.

After informing that Haiti and Saint Kitts and Nevis will join the Non Aligned Movement during this summit, Perez Roque said that 11 out of all 15 nations with observer status will attend the meeting, plus the UN Secretary General and the leaders of the African Union and the Arab League.

The foreign minister explained that after the high level officials meet on Monday and Tuesday, the ministerial level of the summit will take place on Wednesday and Thursday followed by the heads of state on Friday and closing on Saturday.

On behalf of the Cuban government, Perez Roque expressed his recognition of the work undertaken by Malaysia as current chair of the Non-Aligned Movement, which noticeably advanced during the past three-year period under that country’s leadership.