Raul Castro: Cuban Army is Outstanding
Raul Castro, Cuban First Vice President and Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR), congratulated Cuba s western Army for its successful training and improvement in mobilizing and deploying troops.

Granma newspaper highlighted on Monday the celebration of the Military Council of that force, in which the Caguairan Operation, started in mid 2006, was reviewed as well as the systematic training of reservists.

Raul Castro also praised provincial and municipal Defense Councils of the region and assured the task is moving along with similar efficiency throughout the country.

"This army and all armed forces, as few times before, has earned the description of outstanding," stated the minister, according to the report.

The Council evaluated results in Pinar del Rio, Havana province and Havana, and the Isle of Youth special municipality.

Among 2006 advances were modernized means of combat, the Army s structural and functional improvement, increased preparation of regular troop unities and those of the Territorial Troops Militias and fulfillment of the entrance of youth to active military service.

The situation of military reserves and the use of natural medicines and techniques were other issues analyzed in the Council.

The meeting was also attended, among others, by the Cuban Communist Party s Central Committee political Bureau members Ricardo Alarcon, Carlos Lage and Esteban Lazo, Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque and chiefs from the FAR Ministry.