Chronicle on Cuba - May 2007

Security

May 9: On the 62nd anniversary of the victory over fascism, the Cuban Armed Forces paid tribute in Havana to Soviet soldiers who died during missions in Cuba. The ambassadors of Russia, Ukraine, Belorussia and Khazakhastan, as well as military representatives of other countries, placed flowers on the graves and attended the military parade. (AFP, 9/5/07)  

May 10: China's defense minister called for "eternal friendship" with Cuba at the start of a visit to bolster strategic ties with a communist ally 90 miles (145 km) from the United States. "We wish eternal friendship between our countries," Cao said in Havana, the first stop on a trip that includes Argentina, Chile and Greece. Cao is the second top Chinese official to visit Havana in less than a month. Wu Guanzheng, a member of the Standing Committee of China's Communist Party Politburo, met on April 20 with convalescing Fidel Castro, who has not appeared in public since handing over power to his brother Raul nine months ago. (Global Insight, Reuters, 11/5/07)

May 11: Army General Raul Castro Ruz, Second Secretary of the Cuban Communist Party Central Committee and Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR), met with Colonel General Cao Gangchuan, Vice President of the Central Military Committee and Defence Minister of the People’s Popular Republic of China. Official talks were held at the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces in a friendly and fraternal atmosphere, characteristic of the close relations shared between both countries’ communist parties, governments, peoples and armed forces. Also attending the meeting was Army General Alvaro Lopez Miera, FAR Vice Minister and Chief of the FAR General Staff and other high officials. The Chinese Ambassador to Cuba, Zhao Rongxian, and members of the high level delegation accompanying Cao Gangchuan also attended the meeting. (Granma, 12/5/07)