[RedWhiteBlue]

Fidel Castro was at the European-Latin American Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1999. But he's not in the official photo.

That's because the 47 elected leaders at the meeting scrambled to pose for the shot while the old man was in the men's room. THAT is hilarious!

[Cincinatus' Wife]

November 23, 2001 - Most Latins disapprove of Castro, survey says ***The finding comes days before this weekend's Ibero-American Summit in Peru, a forum where Castro has often attracted the lion's share of the attention from the media -- and from other participants, in some cases -- in spite of representing a country at variance with the prevailing democratic currents in the region. Saladrigas said he hoped that knowledge of the poll would prod Latin American leaders to take a more outspoken position against Castro and the Cuban government.*** (Castro sent a last minute letter of regret to the Summit---he said he was needed at home)

December 11, 2001 - European Union Tells Cuba To Improve Human Rights *** The recent fence-mending between Cuba and the European Union evaporated Monday, with the EU telling the Castro government it had better improve its human rights record or else Cuba can forget about improved economic and diplomatic relations with the 15-nation EU. In a statement, the EU foreign ministers said the human rights situation in Cuba "is still seriously wanting as regards the recognition and application of civil and political freedoms." The ministers also criticized Cuba for refusing "to contemplate reforms leading to a political system based on those values." ***