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Brazil leader defies US in Cuba Brazil leader to boost Cuban ties
(about 2 hours later)
Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has arrived in Havana for a 24-hour visit. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is in Havana for a 24-hour visit to strengthen economic ties with Cuba.
He is to sign a series of trade and investment agreements with Communist-run Cuba, in defiance of the US economic embargo. President Lula is expected to sign a series of trade and investment agreements with Communist-run Cuba, in defiance of the US economic embargo.
President Lula was greeted at Havana airport by Cuban foreign minister Felipe Perez Roque. These include an extension of credit lines to allow Cuba to buy more food from Brazil, and investment in Cuba's oil, transport and tourism sectors.
He is due to hold talks with acting President Raul Castro at the Palace of the Revolution on Tuesday. Lula also hopes to see his ailing Cuban counterpart, Fidel Castro.
They are then scheduled to sign a series of trade and investment agreements which could lead to a significant increase in Brazilian involvement. Since the collapse of its main benefactor the Soviet Union, Cuba has struggled to survive, particularly with the US tightening its trade embargo. Venezuela and China are now Cuba's biggest trading partners, offering easy credit terms and subsidised oil.
Fidel Castro is rarely seen; he was last pictured in October Friend
President Lula is expected to offer increased credit lines to buy Brazilian food, as well investments in the oil, tourism and transportation sectors - all of which could help ease the impact of the US economic embargo. During his short visit, President Lula is expected to offer a helping hand from what is one of Latin America's largest economies.
Brazil's left-wing president also hopes to see his ailing counterpart, Fidel Castro, whom he describes as a personal friend. Fidel Castro has not appeared in public for almost 18 months
Fidel Castro has not been seen in public for almost a year and a half since undergoing a series of intestinal operations. Brazil's left-wing president also hopes to see Fidel Castro, whom he describes as a personal friend.
So far it is still not known if the meeting will take place. A number of Lula's closest allies were exiled in Cuba during Brazil's 1964-1985 military dictatorship. This is his second visit to the island since taking over the presidency in 2003.
But it is not clear whether the meeting will take place.
President Lula's spokesman Marcelo Baumbach, said that "because of Fidel's health situation we are relying a little on his doctor's opinion".
Fidel Castro, 81, has not been seen in public for almost a year and a half after undergoing a series of intestinal operations.
He has been writing regular newspaper editorials and has been photographed meeting a number of visiting politicians, including Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez.
The most recent update of Fidel Castro's health came in late December from his brother and acting head of state, Raul Castro.
He said his brother Fidel was mentally alert, had put on weight and was exercising for two hours twice a day.
President Lula's visit was scheduled to taken place last year but was postponed several times.
The official reason given by the Brazilians was that more time was needed to work out this complex set of trade and investment deals.
Biofuels
Lula and Fidel are two of the leading lights of left-wing politics in Latin America, but occupy different parts of the political spectrum.
President Lula is considered part of what is known as the pragmatic left in Latin America.
Cuba is going through a period of change
He supports a free market economy at home and maintaining good relations with the US. It is a position radically different from that of Cuba and its closest regional ally, Hugo Chavez in Venezuela.
There have also been disagreements recently between Cuba and Brazil, particularly over biofuels.
Fidel Castro has written extensively against the use of agricultural crops for biofuels of which Brazil is one of the world's leading producers.
This is a critical period of transition in Cuba, with Fidel still recuperating and Raul attempting to push through a series of economic reforms while maintaining the one-party state.
President Chavez's failed referendum in Venezuela was a timely reminder to the Cubans about the potential risks of tying themselves too closely to a single benefactor.
President Lula's offer of additional trade and investment from Brazil could help Cuba's leadership in maintaining economic stability on the island during this period of change,