Fidel Castro Delegates Functions To His Brother, If Only Temporarily
Cuban President Fidel Castro provisionally delegated his responsibilities Monday evening as leader of State, government, the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR), and the Communist Party (PCC) for reasons of health.

In a proclamation to the people of Cuba, the Revolution leader explained that he was temporarily ceding his national and international State obligations for education, health and energy savings.

The functions of Commander-in-Chief of FAR, State Ministerial Council president, and first PCC secretary were assumed by First Vice President Gen. Raul Castro Ruz, who is also FAR minister and second PCC secretary.

According to the message read by Carlos Valenciaga, State Council member and secretary of the revolutionary leader, President Castro´s health had been under extreme stress, provoking internal intestinal bleeding.

The president said that his visit a little over a week ago to Argentina, where he participated in the MERCOSUR (Southern Common Market) Summit, the closing of the Peoples Summit at Cordoba University and visited Altagracia, the childhood home of heroic guerilla Ernesto Che Guevara, took a great deal of force.

On top of that, when he returned to Cuba, he immediately attended the celebration for the 53rd anniversary of the assault on Moncada and Carlos Manuel de Cespedes Garrisons, July 26, 1953, in eastern Granma and Holguin Provinces, “days and nights of continuous work, almost without sleep took its toll on my health, put me under extreme stress and my health was affected,” the proclamation read.

This provoked an intestinal crisis with sustained bleeding and forced me to undergo a complicated surgery, Fidel Castro informed, adding that all details are contained in the x-rays, endoscopes, and filmed materials.

The surgery requires strict rest for several weeks from responsibilities and “as our country is threatened in such circumstances by the United States government,” the statesmen took the appropriate decisions.

In addition, he provisionally delegated his functions as principal force for national and international public health and education programs to PCC Political Board members Jose Ramon Machado Ventura and Esteban Lazo Hernandez, respectively.

Ministerial Council Executive Committee Secretary Carlos Lage will manage the national energy revolution in Cuba and collaborate with other nations in this field.

"All funds corresponding to the three programs of health, education and energy will continue as I have personally prioritized,” the State leader indicated.

Lage, also Central Bank of Cuba president minister, Francisco Soberon, and Chancellor Felipe Perez Roque, who accompanied Fidel Castro in these affairs, will remain in charge of these resources and will constitute a committee for that objective.

The leader of the Revolution demanded “the Cuban State and nation must focus attention on development of the Non-Aligned Countries Summit, which will take place in Havana September 11 to 16, “with the utmost brilliance.”

The 50th anniversary celebration of the landing of Granma, which landing he led, and his 80th birthday celebration (August 13), “which thousands of personages have generously wished to share” will be postponed until December 2.

"I ask the Party Central Committee and the National Peoples Power Assembly (Congress) to firmly support this proclamation,” he emphasized.

Fidel Castro said he hasn´t the least doubt that the people and the Revolution will fight to the last drop of blood to defend these and other ideas should it be necessary to safeguard this historic process.

"Imperialism will never defeat Cuba, the battle of ideas will continue,” the leader stressed, and gave “vivas” to the homeland, the Revolution, and socialism.

The proclamation, signed by the statesman at 7:22 PM local time concluded with the emblematic “Until the Final Victory”.