Presence of Raul in Uruguay Highlighted

HAVANA, Cuba, Mar 1 (acn) Cuban media outlets highlighted the presence of Cuban President Raul Castro in Uruguay, where he arrived on Saturday to attend the inauguration of Tabare Vazquez, who for the second occasion will assume the country’s presidency after winning general elections in November as candidate of Frente Amplio.
The Army General was received at the Carrasco International Airport by ambassador Bernardo Prato, appointed by the Uruguayan government to welcome all delegations participating in the activities of the transfer of power; Ariel Bergamino, main advisor to the new Uruguayan president; and Colonel Carlos Amaro, Commander of the Air Brigade.
The island’s delegation is also made up by Ricardo Cabrisas, Vice-president of the Council of Ministers; Roberto Morales, Minister of Public Health; Antonio Carricarte, acting Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment; Marcelino Medina, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Mercedes Vicente, Cuba’s ambassador to that South American country.
The Juventud Rebelde newspaper, among other media outlets, underlines that the ceremony was scheduled for 10:00 A.m. Sunday at the Legislative Palace, where Tabare Vazquez and Vice-president elect Raul Sendic will take part in the ceremony of Commitment of Honor and Declaration of Constitutional Loyalty. It is expected that the new head of state gives his first speech to the nation since he finished his term in office as president in 2010.
Later, the Uruguayan presidents and the delegations participating in the presidential activities will go to Independence Square, where Jose Mujica will transfer Tabare Vazquez the ceremonial sash, as it happened five years ago when Mujica assumed power and it was Tabare who gave him the sash.
This is Raul’s first visit to Uruguay, a nation with which Cuba maintains excellent relaitons of friendship and cooperation.