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Bolivian president-elect Morales heading to Cuba
(AP)
Updated: 2005-12-30 09:59
Leftist Bolivian President-elect Evo Morales was heading Friday to Cuba,
where President Fidel Castro's government hailed his electoral victory last week
as a triumph over U.S. imperialism.
Morales' choice of Cuba, which has inspired leftist anti-American movements
across Latin America for nearly half a century, as the first stop on a world
tour was heavy in symbolism.
The 79-year-old Castro has been one of the U.S. government's biggest
headaches in the region during his 47 years in power. Morales, for his part, has
repeatedly declared himself an admirer of Castro and has vowed to become a
"nightmare" for Washington.
Morales, who will be inaugurated on January 22, won the presidency December
18 with nearly 54 percent of the vote _ the most support for any president since
democracy was restored to Bolivia two decades ago.
He joins a growing number of left-leaning elected leaders in Latin America,
some of whom are not shy about criticizing the United States. Venezuelan
President Hugo Chavez, Castro's close friend and ally, has repeatedly accused
U.S. officials of plotting to assassinate him.
Wearing a wreath of coca leaves Bolivia's
president-elect, Evo Morales, waves to supporters during a visit to
Eterazama, in the coca growing region of Chapare, Wednesday, Dec. 28,
2005.[AP] | Partying until dawn on Thursday in Bolivia with the coca growers who helped
him win the presidency, Morales told his supporters: "We are winning the green
battle: the coca leaf is beating the North American dollar."
An Indian coca farmer and former protest leader, Morales campaigned on
promises to halt a U.S.-backed coca eradication campaign in Bolivia.
He has vowed to promote legal markets for coca leaf, which is used to make
cocaine but has many legal uses in Bolivia. He has also said he will crack down
on drug trafficking.
Morales and about 60 supporters _ including legislators and social leaders _
were expected to arrive in Havana Friday morning on an airplane sent by Castro,
said Morales spokesman Alex Contreras.
The president-elect was to meet later in the day with Castro, though no
details on the planned talks were made available. Morales has been a frequent
visitor to Cuba in recent years.
Last week, the Cuban parliament heartily welcomed Morales' election victory
"as if it were our own."
"You and your people have new and great challenges ahead," the National
Assembly said in congratulating Morales.
"With the victory, a new history has been born, one of the emancipation of
the people who colonialism and racism wanted to crush and annihilate," the Cuban
lawmakers said.
Morales was to be back in Bolivia by early Saturday evening for a New Year's
Eve celebration in his honor in his hometown of Orinoca.
On January 4, the 46-year-old president-elect departs on a world tour that
will include visits to Spain, France, Brussels, Holland, South Africa, China and
Brazil.
Contreras said Morales will hold "talks with an open agenda" with the leaders
of those countries.
He added that Morales and his entourage have been invited by the host
governments, "so they will not be spending a single peso."
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