Excellencies:

President Fidel Castro is facing his recovery with insurmountable high spirits, discipline and optimism. His health is improving steadily and his convalescence is satisfactory.

Despite the strictness and the willpower with which he does his treatments and physiotherapy, the doctors have insisted that he continue resting.

As Fidel himself has informed publicly, he follows the medical recommendations to the letter and, therefore, he will not be leading the Cuban delegation to the Summit.

Yesterday, he sent to all of you, the Heads of State or Government, a book to which he devoted a portion of his recovery time.

He has listened intently to the statements and the debate conducted by the Movement’s Foreign Ministers, and is profoundly appreciative of the numerous messages of solidarity and wishes for a speedy recovery that have been expressed.

Once he is fully capable of resuming his duties, Fidel will be the Chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement.

In his 31 July Proclamation, a fundamental item that he emphasized for all of us was that the Summit should be held with the utmost vividness. This was his major concern even if he was not going to be around with all of you that day.

In that same Proclamation, he said that the First Vice-President would fully take over as President of the Councils of State and Ministers as long as he was not physically ready to discharge those duties in the event that he could overcome the critical moments, which have been fortunately left behind.

Accordingly, comrade Raúl Castro will preside over the work of the Summit as President of the Councils of State and Ministers of the Republic of Cuba.

(Cubanoal) 15-09-2006