GMA meets Raul Castro in Havana

HAVANA — President Arroyo met here on Friday Cuban First Vice President Raul Castro, the brother of the ailing Cuban leader Fidel Castro, and again unanimously elected as one of the vice chairpersons of the 118-member Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye also said Mrs. Arroyo also met with Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi at the sidelines of the 14TH NAM summit where they discussed the ongoing peace talks between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

She stayed here for two days since arriving on Thursday to attend the opening of the NAM summit where strongly pushed for migrant worker’s welfare, interfaith dialogue, and disaster-mitigation among other economic and security concerns.

Bunye said Mrs. Arroyo met for a few minutes with Castro and also inquired about his elder brother’s health.

"The President wished him (Fidel Castro) well because according to reports Fidel Castro is recovering fast," he said.

Prior to her arrival, there were efforts to arrange a meeting between the two leaders, Bunye said.

Castro, now 80, remains in sick bed after undergoing intestinal surgery on July 31 and has since temporarily ceded power to his brother Raul for the first time since leading the Cuban Revolution in 1959.

He said Mrs. Arroyo was unanimously reelected in the opening session as vice chairwoman of NAM, being the chairwoman of the Asean.

"The President also sought out various friends, especially (Malaysian) Prime Minister (Abdullah) Badawi, who is so helpful in the peace process in Mindanao.

Mrs. Arroyo also laid a wreath at a small monument of national hero Jose Rizal here. The Spanish inscription read: "Jose Rizal 1861-1896. Filipino patriot, doctor and sculptor. Born in Calamba, Laguna in the Philippines in June 19, 1861. Author of the books Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo. Jailed and tried for activities against Spanish authorities. Died in Dec. 30, 1896 by musketry in Manila. He is the Philippine national hero." Apart from Bunye, accompanying Mrs. Arroyo were Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo, National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales, and Press Undersecretaries Milton Alingod and Jose Capadocia.