The Dark Lord
September 9th, 2010, 04:10 PM
Fidel Castro has admitted for the first time that Cuba’s crumbling economy is not working.
The architect of the 1959 revolution told an American journalist that the cash-strapped, state-controlled economy was not an example to export abroad. Asked by Jeffrey Goldberg, of The Atlantic magazine, if the Cuban economic model should be adopted by other countries, the 84-year-old leader replied: “The Cuban model doesn’t even work for us any more.”
The remarkable admission from El Comandante, as Mr Castro is known in Cuba, has been interpreted as tacit support for limited reforms implemented by Raul Castro, his brother, who took over power from Fidel four years ago.
In the same interview, Mr Castro also said he regretted his actions leading up to the 1962 Cuban missile crisis with the United States which almost led the superpower to the point of nuclear war with the Soviet Union.
Asked about his recommendation at the time that the USSR consider an attack on the US, Mr Castro replied: “After I’ve seen what I’ve seen, and knowing what I know now, it wasn’t worth it at all.”
His comments about Cuba’s ailing economy mark a change, as he has so far steered clear of commenting on domestic politics since a serious illness forced him to step down as leader in 2006.
Raul Castro has introduced a series of minor reforms, allowing some small businesses freedom from state control. Some hairdressers can operate outside the state system, internet access has been slightly liberalised and farmers’ markets have been allowed some freedoms.
In July the Cuban Government released 52 of 75 dissidents who were arrested in 2003.
Professor Sebastian Balfour, a Cuba expert at the London School of Economics, told The Times: “I would be surprised if this was a volte-face [from Castro]. I would like to see concrete measures. The reforms so far introduced by Raul have actually been resisted by Fidel and his Taleban and interests in the military.”
Professor Balfour said it was difficult to equate the limited reforms introduced by Raul Castro to the liberalisation which took place in Communist East European states before the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989.
Cuba imports about 80 per cent of its food from abroad, yet large tracts of fertile land are not exploited. The state controls over 90 per cent of the economy, paying workers around $20 a month in return for free healthcare and education. Transport and housing are almost free. Food is sold at subsidised prices to Cubans who use ration books.
The Cuban regime has blamed its problems on the 48-year-old US trade embargo. However, the economy suffered from the collapse of the Soviet Union, and more recently the global economic downturn and a fall in nickel prices. Endemic corruption and inefficiency make the dire economic situation worse.
In an effort to improve relations between Cuba and the US, Raul Castro said he would meet President Obama, who was reported to be considering lifting some travel restrictions to Cuba for US citizens.
Arturo Valenzuela, US Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, welcomed recent reforms but warned: “These steps are clearly not enough ... to normalise relations.”
The architect of the 1959 revolution told an American journalist that the cash-strapped, state-controlled economy was not an example to export abroad. Asked by Jeffrey Goldberg, of The Atlantic magazine, if the Cuban economic model should be adopted by other countries, the 84-year-old leader replied: “The Cuban model doesn’t even work for us any more.”
The remarkable admission from El Comandante, as Mr Castro is known in Cuba, has been interpreted as tacit support for limited reforms implemented by Raul Castro, his brother, who took over power from Fidel four years ago.
In the same interview, Mr Castro also said he regretted his actions leading up to the 1962 Cuban missile crisis with the United States which almost led the superpower to the point of nuclear war with the Soviet Union.
Asked about his recommendation at the time that the USSR consider an attack on the US, Mr Castro replied: “After I’ve seen what I’ve seen, and knowing what I know now, it wasn’t worth it at all.”
His comments about Cuba’s ailing economy mark a change, as he has so far steered clear of commenting on domestic politics since a serious illness forced him to step down as leader in 2006.
Raul Castro has introduced a series of minor reforms, allowing some small businesses freedom from state control. Some hairdressers can operate outside the state system, internet access has been slightly liberalised and farmers’ markets have been allowed some freedoms.
In July the Cuban Government released 52 of 75 dissidents who were arrested in 2003.
Professor Sebastian Balfour, a Cuba expert at the London School of Economics, told The Times: “I would be surprised if this was a volte-face [from Castro]. I would like to see concrete measures. The reforms so far introduced by Raul have actually been resisted by Fidel and his Taleban and interests in the military.”
Professor Balfour said it was difficult to equate the limited reforms introduced by Raul Castro to the liberalisation which took place in Communist East European states before the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989.
Cuba imports about 80 per cent of its food from abroad, yet large tracts of fertile land are not exploited. The state controls over 90 per cent of the economy, paying workers around $20 a month in return for free healthcare and education. Transport and housing are almost free. Food is sold at subsidised prices to Cubans who use ration books.
The Cuban regime has blamed its problems on the 48-year-old US trade embargo. However, the economy suffered from the collapse of the Soviet Union, and more recently the global economic downturn and a fall in nickel prices. Endemic corruption and inefficiency make the dire economic situation worse.
In an effort to improve relations between Cuba and the US, Raul Castro said he would meet President Obama, who was reported to be considering lifting some travel restrictions to Cuba for US citizens.
Arturo Valenzuela, US Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, welcomed recent reforms but warned: “These steps are clearly not enough ... to normalise relations.”