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Fidel Castro chides US ahead of embassy reopening Cuba prepares to reopen US embassy in Havana
(35 minutes later)
Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro has published an open letter to the nation in which he makes no mention of the historic reopening of the US embassy. The US is preparing to reopen its embassy in Havana on Friday, more than 54 years after it was closed.
Mr Castro instead criticises American foreign and economic policies since World War Two and accuses the US of owing Cuba millions of dollars. US Secretary of State John Kerry will attend a ceremony in the Cuban capital that will signal the warming of ties between both countries.
The letter was published to mark Mr Castro's 89th birthday. Cuba reopened its embassy in Washington last month.
The US embassy will be reopened in Havana on Friday, with US Secretary of State John Kerry attending. Earlier, former Cuban leader Fidel Castro wrote an open letter in which he said the US owed Cuba millions of dollars because of its trade embargo.
Mr Castro said the US owed Cuba money because of the trade embargo the US imposed on the communist-run island in 1960. The embargo, imposed 53 years ago, has yet to be lifted. Mr Castro's letter makes no mention of the reopening of the US embassy.
Cuba says the embargo - which it calls a blockade - is hugely damaging to its economy. Historic visit
It says relations will only be fully restored once it is lifted.
Three marines who lowered the American flag for the last time on 4 January 1961 will raise it again during Friday's ceremony in Havana.Three marines who lowered the American flag for the last time on 4 January 1961 will raise it again during Friday's ceremony in Havana.
They are now retired and in their late 70s.They are now retired and in their late 70s.
"I'm gonna love seeing that flag go back up," said former marine Jim Tracy, 78, on a US State Department video. "I'm gonna love seeing that flag go back up," said former marine Jim Tracy, 78, in a US State Department video.
Cuba reopened its embassy in Washington last month. Mr Kerry will become the first US Secretary of State to visit Cuba in 70 years.
Cuban leader Raul Castro and US President Barack Obama agreed to restore ties in December last year.
While trade and travel restrictions have been relaxed, the Republican-led US Congress has not lifted the trade embargo the US imposed on the communist-run island in 1960.
Cuba says the embargo - which it calls a blockade - is hugely damaging to its economy.
It says relations will be fully restored only once it is lifted.
Fidel Castro's letter was published in state newspaper Granma to mark his 89th birthday.
Fidel Castro: Cuba's revolutionary leaderFidel Castro: Cuba's revolutionary leader
How did Fidel Castro keep a grip on power for so long?How did Fidel Castro keep a grip on power for so long?
In his birthday letter published in state newspaper Granma, Mr Castro says Cuba is committed to "good will and peace in our hemisphere" but adds: "We will never stop fighting for the peace and welfare of all human beings, regardless of the colour of their skin and which country they come from". In it, Mr Castro said Cuba was committed to "good will and peace in our hemisphere" but added: "We will never stop fighting for the peace and welfare of all human beings, regardless of the colour of their skin and which country they come from."
Fidel Castro led his country from the Cuban Revolution, in 1959, until 2006, when he stood down because of undisclosed health problems.Fidel Castro led his country from the Cuban Revolution, in 1959, until 2006, when he stood down because of undisclosed health problems.
He passed on power to his younger brother, Raul, who embarked on a number of economic reforms.He passed on power to his younger brother, Raul, who embarked on a number of economic reforms.
After Raul Castro and US President Barack Obama announced in December that their two countries had agreed to restore diplomatic relations, it took Fidel Castro more than a month to express lukewarm approval for the historic reconciliation.
"I don't trust the policy of the US, nor have I exchanged a word with them, but this does not mean I reject a peaceful solution to conflicts," he wrote in a letter in January.