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| Fidel Castro Shares Views On Warming Of Relations | |
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| MEXICO CITY — Fidel Castro has ended his silence of almost six weeks over the deal to restore diplomatic relations between the United States and Cuba, writing in a letter that he supported a peaceful end to conflict but still distrusted American politics. | |
| “We will always defend cooperation and friendship with all of the world’s people, among them, our political adversaries,” Mr. Castro wrote in the letter. It was read to students to observe the 70th anniversary of his matriculation at the University of Havana, and it was published late on Monday in Granma, the Communist Party’s official newspaper. | “We will always defend cooperation and friendship with all of the world’s people, among them, our political adversaries,” Mr. Castro wrote in the letter. It was read to students to observe the 70th anniversary of his matriculation at the University of Havana, and it was published late on Monday in Granma, the Communist Party’s official newspaper. |
| The conspicuous absence of Mr. Castro after the announcement on Dec. 17 of the détente after decades of tension and diplomatic estrangement prompted rumors in Havana and Miami that he was dead. Those were largely calmed by a letter two weeks ago from Mr. Castro, 88, to the Argentine soccer star Diego Maradona. | The conspicuous absence of Mr. Castro after the announcement on Dec. 17 of the détente after decades of tension and diplomatic estrangement prompted rumors in Havana and Miami that he was dead. Those were largely calmed by a letter two weeks ago from Mr. Castro, 88, to the Argentine soccer star Diego Maradona. |
| But the letter to Mr. Maradona did not mention the re-establishment of diplomatic relations with the United States, leaving analysts to wonder whether Mr. Castro, who stared down nearly a dozen American presidents during the long standoff between the two nations, approved of the deal. Mr. Castro, who handed the reins of power to his brother Raúl because of serious illness — first in 2006, then officially in 2008 — has made only sporadic appearances over the last few years and has not been seen in public in a year. | |
| In the letter published on Monday, Mr. Castro was wide-ranging, skipping from global economic inequality and Greek notions of utopia to Cuba’s role in the Angolan conflict before addressing the reconciliation of Cuba and the United States. | In the letter published on Monday, Mr. Castro was wide-ranging, skipping from global economic inequality and Greek notions of utopia to Cuba’s role in the Angolan conflict before addressing the reconciliation of Cuba and the United States. |
| “I shall explain my essential position in a few words,” he wrote. “I do not trust the politics of the United States, nor have I exchanged a word with them, but this is not, in any way, a rejection of a peaceful solution to conflicts.” | “I shall explain my essential position in a few words,” he wrote. “I do not trust the politics of the United States, nor have I exchanged a word with them, but this is not, in any way, a rejection of a peaceful solution to conflicts.” |
| His brother, he wrote, had “taken the relevant steps in line with the prerogatives and authorities awarded to him by the National Assembly and the Cuban Communist Party.” | His brother, he wrote, had “taken the relevant steps in line with the prerogatives and authorities awarded to him by the National Assembly and the Cuban Communist Party.” |
| Brian Latell, a former analyst with the C.I.A. who has tracked the Castros for decades, noted that the letter did not mention three Cuban spies who had been imprisoned in the United States and were returned to the island as part of the negotiations. | Brian Latell, a former analyst with the C.I.A. who has tracked the Castros for decades, noted that the letter did not mention three Cuban spies who had been imprisoned in the United States and were returned to the island as part of the negotiations. |
| Fidel Castro had campaigned years for the return of the spies, originally part of a group of five, turning them into a cause célèbre in left-leaning circles abroad. | Fidel Castro had campaigned years for the return of the spies, originally part of a group of five, turning them into a cause célèbre in left-leaning circles abroad. |
| “He made it such a principle, but he hasn’t reacted to that and he hasn’t seen them,” said Mr. Latell, referring to the spies. He added, “Why hasn’t he taken some credit?” | “He made it such a principle, but he hasn’t reacted to that and he hasn’t seen them,” said Mr. Latell, referring to the spies. He added, “Why hasn’t he taken some credit?” |
| The letter, whose authorship cannot be verified, seemed to serve Raúl Castro’s political purposes more than Fidel’s, Mr. Latell said, adding, “You have to wonder who is composing these utterances.” | The letter, whose authorship cannot be verified, seemed to serve Raúl Castro’s political purposes more than Fidel’s, Mr. Latell said, adding, “You have to wonder who is composing these utterances.” |