Cuba's two leading newspapers on Wednesday published an article attributed to President Fidel Castro on the history of US-Cuban relations, which he dedicates to "future generations" of Cubans. Castro, who turned 81 on Monday, has not been seen in public since undergoing intestinal surgery in July 2006.
Cuban officials have said they treat his illness and recovery as a state secret. "Cuban history over the past 140 years has been the struggle to preserve national identity and independence," wrote Castro. The United States, meanwhile, which Castro refers to as "the empire," has a long history of scheming to take over the island. Castro also writes about what he says are "the horrendous methods that (the United States) uses today to maintain its domination over the world."
The article, published in the government dailies Granma and Juventud Rebelde, was announced earlier as part of a series that will run to the end of the week.
These "reflections," as Castro called his observations, "are especially aimed at the new generations" of Cubans so that they know "about very important and decisive events in the destiny of our country." Castro on Monday turned 81, with discreet celebrations held on the island amid rumors that his recovery may have stalled. Castro "temporarily" ceded the reins of government to his brother and defence chief Raul Castro last year.