The story appears on

Page A11

July 5, 2011

GET this page in PDF

Free for subscribers

View shopping cart

Related News

HomeWorld

Castro confident Chavez will beat cancer

Fidel Castro ended a silence that lasted more than a month to laud President Hugo Chavez's recovery from surgery in Cuba, saying he was confident the Venezuelan leader will win his battle against cancer.

Chavez returned to Venezuela yesterday after spending almost a month on the Caribbean island.

In an essay published on Sunday, Castro said Cuba has an "indestructible friendship" with Chavez. "Let's give him the strongest support and confidence," wrote the ex-Cuban leader.

Castro said Chavez has worked almost without stopping since taking office in 1999, so it was only natural that his health would suffer.

"Without hesitation, I affirm that the results are impressive, and I do not hesitate to affirm that the patient has undertaken a decisive battle that will lead him, and with him Venezuela, to a great victory," Castro wrote.

Chavez arrived in Cuba on June 8 for what ostensibly was a previously scheduled visit. He said he underwent initial surgery on June 11 to have a pelvic abscess removed, and doctors determined a second operation was needed to remove a cancerous "abscessed tumor" from his pelvic region.

After 18 days out of sight, the Venezuelan leader announced last Thursday that he had the second surgery to remove the tumor.

No details were given about the type of cancer involved.

Venezuelan officials said Chavez had remained closely involved with government decisions while in Cuba.



 

Copyright 漏 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.

娌叕缃戝畨澶 31010602000204鍙

Email this to your friend