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The 10th International Habano Festival will take place next week in this capital with the attendance of professionals and smokers from the world over, many of them already in Cuban soil, indicated industry sources.

Considered one of the most important meetings dealing on tobacco in the planet, this venue -from February 25-29- will gather at least one thousand persons of the five continents interested in habano cigars.

The event features a trade fair, visits to plantations and cigar factories, cigar-tasting and contests. On this occasion there will also be a contest for the Habanos-Armagnac trophy and Habano-sommelier, as well as lectures and debates of great interest.

The past edition attracted 1,600 participants, among them 948 foreignbers for 66 percent of all attendants.

The countries most represented were Spain, Canada, Switzerland, Germany, Benelux and France and organizers expect a similar attendance this year from over 50 countries.

Among the topics to be discussed in the event are “The architecture of factories and warehouses, women and the history of the tobacco sector and the Oldest History of Tobacco, among others.

As is usual, the program includes the Distributors Dinner, dedicated this year to Germany and Switzerland and the closing Gala where the Habano Prizes of the Year are

A Cuban civil organization said Fidel Castro”s decision to neither aspire to nor accept the Presidency of the Council of State was a special political vision.
Cubans Respect Fidel Castro Message

In a letter published Friday by “Granma” newspaper, the Federation of Cuban Women (FMC) Fidel Castro”s message was moving, and is “a new example of greatness, intelligence, special political vision and altruism.” “We respect and support the fully conscious decision, made with a sense of the historic moment and need to guarantee the continuity you have forged and assured forever,” the female organization”s note stresses.

But the authority derived from his history and example, the deep and boundless affection we have for him, his confidence, have nothing to do with posts, degrees and constitutional regulations.

In another message, members from the Federation of University Students expressed their support of the statesman, based on his decision”s security and wisdom.

“We only say that we support him and will keep on fighting for a better Cuba, which he has always mentioned,” states the release published by “Juventud Rebelde” on its front page.

“Fidel Castro, and his mission to train us has just started. His ideas, lessons and infinite examples of love will keep on being our most precious weapons and his everlasting rebellious young man”s spirit goes together with us,” the article emphasizes.

Sunday, the 614 deputies-elect are meeting here to constitute the seventh legislature of the Cuban National Peoples Power Assembly.

This will be the first time since 1976 that the leader of the Revolution, Fidel Castro, will be absent from candidacy for the position of president of the nation”s State Council.

Five days ago he announced that he neither aspires to nor will accept reelection.

Thus, the nomination and election of who will be the new president of the leadership of the Cuban state for the next five years is of special relevance. .

The present system of governance of Cuba was approved by 97.7 percent of voters in the referendum of February 24, 1976 and December 2 of that year the first legislature was installed.

This seventh session began at 10:00 AM at the Havana International Conference Center under the direction of the (CEN) National Electoral Commission President Maria Esther Reus.

Reus and the other CEN members will examine and validate the certificates of election of each of the deputies.

When this is accomplished, she will declare the legislature”s validity, inform of its social composition and validate quorum. When the National Anthem plays, the deputies will be sworn in and the National Assembly officially constituted.

The new deputies will then nominate and elect those among them who will occupy the posts of president, vice president and secretary of the assembly.

Later they will nominate and elect from among themselves those who will hold the positions of president, first vice president, five vice presidents, secretary and other members of the State Council.

The candidates for these great responsibilities come also from the extensive consulting process made by the National Candidates Commission (CCN) composed of representatives from Cuban NGOs.

CCN President Amarilys Perez will present the two candidacy proposals for the deputies” consideration and explain the basis guiding their elaboration. The president of the Electoral Commission will submit both candidacy proposals for the deputies” scrutiny and approval by secret and direct vote.

According to the electoral law, those obtaining more than 50 percent of the votes will be declared elected. The Cuban Constitution establishes “in the Republic of Cuba sovereignty resides in the people, from whom flows all State power.” It adds that “this power is exercised directly or through the Peoples Power Assemblies and other State organs derived from them, in the form and according to the norms established by the Constitution and the law.” In the same way, the State Council is the organ of the National Peoples Power Assembly which it represents between sessions, executing its accords and complying with other constitutionally attributed functions.

It also is inferred to represent the Cuban State nationally and internationally.

Cuba´s National Assembly of People´s Power elected Raul Castro Ruz as president of the Council of State for the next five years.

Prensa Latina is now posting his biography.

Born June 3, 1931 en the eastern town of Birán, in the former province of Oriente. He attended school first in Santiago and then in Havana, where he entered the University.

As a university student, he participated actively in political actions against Carlos Prio Socarras’s corrupt administration and the Batista tyranny.

In 1953, he attended an Internacional Youth Rights Conference in Vienna, and was invited to take part in a meeting to organize the 4th World Youth and Student Festival scheduled for Bucharest.

On July 26, 1953, he took part in the attack on the Moncada barracks, leading the group that took over the Palace of Justice, to back Fidel’s main military action against the garrison. But the assault failed, and Raul was sentenced to 13 years in the former Isle of Pine’s Model Prison.

In 1955, he was released alongside the rest of the Moncada attackers due to popular pressure on Fulgencio Batista’s regime.

Political persecution forced him to seek refuge in Mexico, where he participated in the preparations of the Granma revolutionary expedition in 1956.

Following the Alegria de Pio baptism of fire, he commanded a small gruop of four expeditionaries until December 18, when they met again with Fidel at Cinco Palmas, in Purial de Vicana.

For his outstanding participation in the Sierra Maestra guerilla warfare campaign, Fidel made him commander in February 27, 1958. He was assigned the mission to cross the province of Oriente, to the northeast of that territory, leading a column of guerrillas to open the Estearn front Frank Pais.

After the triumph of the Revolution on January 1, 1959, he was appointed military chief of the province of Oriente. He was appointed Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces when the Ministry was founded in October 1959 and has served in that capacity ever since.

He was a member of the National Leadership of the Integrated Revolutionary Organizations and of the United Party of the Socialist Revolution of Cuba. He has been a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and its Second Secretary since the Party’s formation in October 1965.

He has been a member of the National Assembly of the People’s Power since the Parliament’s formation in 1976, when he was also elected First Vice President of the Council of State and the Council of Ministers.

In November 15, 1976, he became the nation’s highest ranking general and on February 27, 1998, on the 40th anniversary of becoming a Rebel Army comandante, he was awarded the honor title of Hero of the Republic of Cuba and the Maximo Gomez order in its first degree.

These decorations were bestowed upon him for his oustanding revolutionary career and his dedication.

As a political leader, stateman and military chief, Army General Raúl Castro Ruz has made important contributions to our Revolution.

As minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces, he has achieved outstanding results in the country’s defense preparation and the implementation of the All the People’s War concept.

Cuban CDRs - Committees in Defense of the Revolution - the massive grassroots Cuban organization (more than eight million members) highlighted Sunday President Fidel Castro´s moral stature.

In a message published by Juventud Rebelde newspaper, the CDR National Executive office expressed that the president, who has dedicated his life to fulfilling his duties, is giving us a new lesson in moral stature, bravery, unselfishness and confidence.

The CDRs supported Fidel Castro´s decision to not accept the position of president of the Council of State or Commander in Chief, at the 7th National Assembly legislature beginning today.

To our adversaries, the moment might seem suited for confirmations and aspirations, reads the CDR statement, pointing out that revolutionary surveillance will be an insuperable defense against any enemy attempt.

For the Committees in Defense of the Revolution, this is the time to maintain the unity that has so far preserved the most dearly and beloved wishes and sacred aspirations of this nation throughout history.