MOSCOW, November 22. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has shared his memories of the leader of the Cuban revolution, Fidel Castro, whom he had met in person on multiple occasions. Putin said he was invariably impressed by Castro's deep immersion in the nuances of the world situation.
"My memories are still fresh of how impressed I was when we met for the first time at his office. It was a rather casual rendezvous. We had lunch together and discussed current world affairs. I was very surprised by his thorough knowledge of the details and nuances of what was happening around the world, in some cases quite far away from Cuba," Putin said at talks with Cuba’s visiting President Miguel Diaz-Canel on Tuesday.
As Putin recalled, Castro "knew and was able to analyze everything that was afoot in the world."
"It was very interesting and useful for me to have these meetings," he said. "I still remember the slightest details of our personal encounters with him. He was a bright man."
Putin attributed the current good relationship between Moscow and Havana to what he described as "traditional friendship, the groundwork of which comrade Fidel Castro laid in his day."
"Based on this solid foundation of friendship, we must, of course, bearing in mind the current realities, move on, and strengthen our cooperation," the Russian leader believes. "I am very glad that we have such an opportunity."
Monument to Castro
Earlier on Tuesday, a monument to Fidel Castro was unveiled in Moscow. Putin and Diaz-Canel attended this ceremony personally. Later, at the talks, the Russian leader shared his impressions of the monument.
"Today we opened a monument to him, which in my opinion, is very good. I do not know if you liked it or not, but it seems to me that one can't help but like it," Putin said with a smile, adding that it was a proper tribute to Castro’s memory and a real work of art. "It’s dynamic, on the move, looking forward. A perfect image of a true fighter."