Caracas, Jan 12 (IANS) Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has said that Cuban leader Fidel Castro would not appear at official public events in future because of his delicate health, EFE reported Monday.
'Regrettably, we know that that will not occur again... the former Fidel, who went through the streets and towns at daybreak... with his uniform and embracing the people. It won't happen. It will remain a memory,' Chavez said during his Sunday radio and television programme 'Alo Presidente'.
The Venezuelan leader, who often calls Castro 'father, brother, teacher or comrade', said he never imagined that the July 2006 visit he made with Castro to the former home of deceased revolutionary icon Ernesto 'Che' Guevara in the Argentine city of Cordoba would be the last that they would undertake together.
During the visit to Che's house, 'we became mischievous little boys again', and afterwards Fidel 'took me to the door of the plane, we gave each other an embrace. How could I think, my God, that it was the last time' they would appear in public together, the Venezuelan leader said.
'Fidel's going to live, as he is living and will always live, beyond physical life,' added Chavez, who has frequently travelled to Havana in recent years to visit Castro.
The 82-year-old Cuban leader is convalescing from an intestinal ailment that has not allowed him to appear in public since July 2006. He stepped down from the Cuban presidency in favour of his younger brother Raul.
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