MOSCOW. (Vitaly VOROTNIKOV in interview with RIA Novosti defense commentator Viktor LITOVKIN) - Cuban leader Fidel Castro Ruz, who marked his 80th birthday last month, has been and remains a bright political figure.
He leaves neither his friends nor foes indifferent. What kind of man is Fidel? Why has he attracted millions of supporters and followers?
Former Soviet Ambassador to Cuba (1979-1982) and Chairman of the RSFSR Council of Ministers (1983-1989) gave an interview about Fidel Castro to RIA Novosti.
Q: What happened with Russian interests in Cuban economy?
A: We gave up this work under Yeltsin, and have had no interests there since then. Cuba started cooperation with Mexico in oil production. With us the Cubans produced a mere 300,000 tons of oil, and we could not supply them with the equipment they needed. We kept saying that its transportation was too difficult, that Cuba was too far, that we had to meet our own requirements. At that time, the U.S.S.R. produced about 630 million tons of oil a year. In this situation the Cubans had to turn to Mexico. This was when I was still in Cuba.
I called Chairman of the U.S.S.R. Planning Committee Nikolai Baibakov: "Comrade Baibakov, we are missing our gain. Why don't we supply Cuba with what it needs?" He replied: "What can I do about it? I'm being torn apart, and barely manage to supply what we need ourselves." Today, Cuba produces about five million tons of oil, covering almost half of its requirements. Moreover, the Cubans have discovered a gas deposit. The improvement of relations with Venezuela has given them access to more oil. In other words, the economy supports politics. This is what we did not have under perestroika. Our economy was run down by politics.
I often go to Cuba, almost every other year. Last time I was there a year ago. I have to say that now Cubans live better than they did in our time. It sounds paradoxical, but it's true. In effect, they have free trade, which involves a huge workforce. Employees of joint ventures receive part of their salaries in hard currency. They cannot keep all of it, and give some of it to the state of their own free will for social needs - children still receive free clothes, textbooks, food, and tuition. Students do not pay for university education either.
Cuba has free foreign currency exchange, but the state controls this process. Officially, this does not apply to the dollar because of the provocative U.S. policy. It is still possible to exchange it, but not buy anything with it.
Q: Do they have shops like our Beryozka in Soviet times, where goods were sold for special checks?
A: They have similar shops, where you can buy things for euros or convertible pesos. They have such currency in Cuba... You can buy all you want with it in special shops, particularly in tourist areas and in Havana. Every Cuban who has foreign currency or convertible pesos can spend them there.
They have opened the agricultural market. It is now completely free. Everyone can buy and sell anything he or she grows, or makes. In addition, they have what we call flea markets, where you can find anything you need in everyday life - arts and crafts, embroidery, jerseys, socks... Cuba has gone further than we did in the Soviet times. Those who say that life in Cuba has become worse are entirely wrong - they don't know what to compare it with.
Even the way Cuba looks has changed. There are many foreign cars. They have ours, too - they cooperate with the VAZ plant. People are well dressed. True, they still have a food rationing system, but it applies only to certain items, and they cost very little. But it guarantees that everyone will have enough to eat. If he or she works, gets a pension, or has more than one job, this will be an addition to the rationed products, to milk...
Q: To rice, meat...
A: No, not to meat. Staple foods are rice, dairy products, pasta, flour, fruit and vegetables. Fruit are dirt-cheap because there are plentiful. Mango trees grow by the roads, and you can pick as many as you wish, not to mention coconuts. They don't even go as food products.
We have discussed why Fidel Castro enjoys high prestige with the Cubans. One more reason is his ability to be flexible, and to influence the economy even in the conditions that have been imposed on Cuba by America, and by us as well. People see for themselves that life is getting better, roads and housing are being built, wages are growing, and shops have goods to buy... And they appreciate it all.
Q: But let's return to Fidel's personality. What kind of man is he?
A: He is a truly unique man. Today, some prominent actors, writers, and political leaders are often called great, often posthumously. Sometimes they are, sometimes they aren't. But Fidel is really a great man, a legend. It is common knowledge that he is very educated. He is brilliant at international and domestic law, and well versed in religion. He is in his element in any religious dispute. He knows arts very well. I was surprised that he has a good grasp on modern art.
I don't understand modernism or abstractionism, but Fidel encourages them in Cuba, and knows a lot about them. He is very familiar with literature. He also knows history inside out - both Latin American and of the rest of the world. Fidel is a man of encyclopedic knowledge. He deals with specific economic aspects, and studies them from scratch to finish. For instance, he wanted to organize cheese production in Cuba. The Cubans did not know what cheese was. But Fidel went to France, sent people there to learn the trade, bought the equipment, and cheese production started in different places.
Now when you are invited to Cuban homes, the hosts always serve many brands of cheese on a wooden tray at the end of dinner - choose what you like. Credit for this goes to Fidel. At one point he got interested in Russian cuisine. By the way, he is a good chef himself, especially when it comes to seafood. Generally, he is undemanding about food, and eats everything his diet permits. He takes good care of himself, and does sports not to put on weight. He used to come to our residence once or twice a month, and I always treated him to our dishes - dumplings, pies, or pancakes. He always asked me how they were cooked and from what products.
We met not only at the offices, at my residence, but during holidays, or visits to plants... Some meetings were accidental. I'd go to a plant, and see Fidel there, or he'd come to a place where I was, and we'd always find the time to talk. We spent holidays together, too. I saw him in different situations, and I can say that he is a very modest man with excellent manners. He is emotional, of course, but he does not give vent to his emotions very often. Usually, he does it in his public speeches, but when he talks to people, he is very attentive.
Very few statesmen or politicians are able to listen to people and to hear what they are saying. He listens carefully, especially if he is interested. If someone talks too much, and it doesn't make any sense, Fidel would try to gently change the subject. He does not like idle talk. He's also suspicious of people who talk much but do little. Sometimes, he even stops seeing them.
Fidel is very democratic with ordinary people but does now allow familiarity. He doesn't kiss or hug anyone, but can pat a friend's shoulder. People are very attracted to him.
Fidel does not try to create some impression. This is what he is - very different. He laughs, but not very often. He prefers to smile. He can be serious, reserved or merry. But he can work himself into a state as well. When I told him that our troops had entered Afghanistan, he almost jumped: "How come? When? Why? I've written to Brezhnev about the situation there. You shouldn't have done this!" But after a while, he calmed down and said in an even voice: "What should be done now? This will evoke such a stir in the world. We must take some action. How can I help you? How can we influence public opinion?" He added: "What should be done not to drag it out? This means bloodshed, you will be at war..."
The main thing about Fidel Castro is that he has been and remains our friend no matter what. A true friend is the best quality a politician can have. I wish him excellent health, and hope to meet him again more than once.
