"Glory to you Nelson, for 25 years from a solitary prison you defended human 
dignity!" Fidel Castro wrote in a brief note to Mandela that was published in 
the Communist youth newspaper Juventud Rebelde and appeared in other 
state-controlled media. "You knew how to resist and, without wanting to or 
trying to, you became a symbol of humanity's highest nobility."
Help the poor, pleads Mandela as he turns 90
5:00AM Sunday July 20, 2008
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/2/story.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10522464


Photo / AP
Nelson Mandela sat beaming, his legs propped up and covered with a blanket as 
10 grandchildren sang Happy Birthday and smothered him with hugs and kisses as 
he celebrated his 90th birthday on Friday.
At his home in rural south-eastern South Africa, elders in traditional dress 
came to pay their respects, sheep were trucked in and bare-breasted young women 
sang and danced.
The man himself still found time to read a pile of newspapers, to keep up with 
local and international affairs.
Mandela told a small group of reporters he was fortunate to have reached 90, 
but remains troubled by the demoralising poverty still faced by so many of his 
countrymen.
His message was simple - the wealthy must do more.
"There are many people in South Africa who are rich and who can share those 
riches with those not so fortunate, who have not been able to conquer poverty," 
he said.                                            




 
Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years for fighting apartheid and after his 
release in 1990 lead negotiations to end racist white rule, before being 
elected president in South Africa's first democratic elections in 1994.
He completed his term in 1999 and did not run again, but has continued to take 
a leading role in the fight against poverty, illiteracy and Aids in Africa.
Birthday messages have been pouring in, including from US President Bush, who 
applauded Mandela as "a great example of courage, hope, and the power of 
freedom".
A variety of birthday celebration events are planned in Mandela's honour this 
weekend, including a lunch with 500 dignitaries, a soccer festival and a pop 
concert.
- AP
 
Fidel Castro hails Mandela at 90 as 'symbol of humanity's highest nobility'


The Associated Press
Published: July 20, 2008


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http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/07/20/news/CB-Cuba-Castro-Mandela.php
HAVANA: Fidel Castro on Sunday hailed Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday, calling 
the Nobel Peace Prize winning icon "a symbol of humanity's highest nobility."
"Glory to you Nelson, for 25 years from a solitary prison you defended human 
dignity!" Castro wrote in a brief note to Mandela that was published in the 
Communist youth newspaper Juventud Rebelde and appeared in other 
state-controlled media. "You knew how to resist and, without wanting to or 
trying to, you became a symbol of humanity's highest nobility."
Mandela turned 90 on Friday. Imprisoned for nearly three decades for fighting 
apartheid, he was release in 1990 and went on to be elected president in South 
Africa's first democratic elections.
Castro, who is suffering from an unknown illness and will tun 82 next month, 
has not been seen in public since undergoing emergency intestinal surgery in 
July 2006. His younger brother Raul succeeded him as president in February, 
becoming Cuba's first new head of state in 49 years.
Fidel Castro won the gratitude of many Africans by sending 350,000 troops to 
battle the former white-dominated South African government in Angola's civil 
war, draining resources from the apartheid system.




When Mandela was inaugurated as South Africa's first black president in 1994, 
he made Castro a guest of honor and praised Cuba's "selfless support for the 
struggle to free all of South Africa's people."
Castro wrote to Mandela Sunday that "you will live on in the memories of future 
generations and with you, so will the Cubans who fell defending liberty and 
their brothers in other parts of the world."



With Regards

Abi


      

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