Celebration forum for Castro's birthday continues
A forum to celebrate Cuban leader Fidel Castro's 80th birthday entered its second day on Thursday with participants continuing to discuss Castro's influence on various aspects of the country.

The three-day forum, named "Memory and Future: Cuba and Fidel," was staged by the Guayasamin Foundation to honor the Cuban leader.

During the final two days, the meeting was set to focus on Castro's relationship with the country's democracy, science, equality, social participation and justice, and alternatives to the industrial culture's hegemony.

On Wednesday, participants discussed Cuba's medical assistance to poor people worldwide and its contributions in terms of culture and internationalism.

The meeting attracted 1,500 delegates from 80 nations, including former Ecuadorian President Rodrigo Borja, Vice President of the Democratic Republic of Congo Yerodia Abdoulaye Ndombasi and Deputy Secretary of Nicaragua's Sandinista National Liberation Front Tomas Borge.

The forum will publish an article describing the function of the revolution and the status of Castro, and will launch a book of poems illustrated with paintings by Ecuadorian painter Guayasamin.

Castro turned 80 on Aug. 13, but asked Cubans not to celebrate on that day as he was recovering from a July 31 operation to halt gastric bleeding.

Castro did not show up at the celebrations, but sent a message saying he was not yet well enough to attend public occasions.