NY Times - Chávez Shares Some Airtime With Castro

THE NEW YORK TIMES
February 28, 2007
Chávez Shares Some Airtime With Castro
By SIMON ROMERO

CARACAS, Venezuela, Feb. 27 - "How are you?" President Hugo Chávez
asked Tuesday in his nightly live radio program after a special guest
phoned in from Havana.

"Very well," replied Fidel Castro, speaking in what was believed to
be his first live broadcast since relinquishing power to his brother
last July.

That exchange was in thickly accented but politically pointed
English; then the two switched to Spanish for a chat that touched on
the plunge in the Chinese stock market on Tuesday, their skepticism
about using corn to produce ethanol and mockery of President Bush's
coming visit to several Latin American countries. (Venezuela and Cuba
are not on the itinerary.)

"I feel I have more energy, more strength, more time to study," said
Mr. Castro, whose voice sounded thin and frail on "Hello, President,"
which Venezuela hears five nights a week.

"You don't know the happiness it gives us to hear your voice and to
know you are well," Mr. Chávez said. "We send you a hug; we are
gratefully surprised."

Critics of Mr. Chávez see echoes of Mr. Castro in his efforts to
consolidate his power, ruling by decree and creating a single
socialist party. Mr. Castro expressed only pride in Mr. Chávez,
crediting him with "raising the flag to save the species."

Mr. Chávez, 52, has occasionally been seen on video with Mr. Castro,
80, since the Cuban leader's illness and seclusion began last year.
But some Cuba watchers initially said they believed Mr. Castro's
illness might dilute Venezuela's alliance with Cuba.

However, recent developments have dispelled such speculation.

Venezuela is financing the installation of fiber optic cable to
improve Cuba's Internet and telecommunications systems and is
planning to send 100,000 Venezuelans to Cuba on "revolutionary"
tourism jaunts, in addition to maintaining shipments to Cuba of about
100,000 barrels a day of subsidized oil.

Cuba, meanwhile, has sent thousands of social workers to Venezuela to
install fluorescent light bulbs in homes to help conserve energy.
Thousands of other Cubans are at work in Venezuela, providing
subsidized medical care and advice on mining and sugar cultivation.