Castro Hints at Mexican Pressure--(Fox tells Fidel :Mi casa no es su casa!)***Cuban officials at the time insisted that Mexican officials pressured Castro to leave early at the insistence of the Bush administration. Both Mexican and U.S. officials have denied that. During his two-hour presentation to reporters Monday night, Castro acknowledged that the men had agreed that the conversation would be private, but Mexico's decision to join the Friday U.N. Human Relations Commission vote targeting Cuba "was the last straw."
"If anyone could prove that such a conversation never took place, and that those were not President Fox's words, I would firmly offer my immediate resignation to all my positions and responsibilities at the head of the Cuban state and revolution," Castro declared. "My honor would not permit me to continue at the head of this country," he added to the statement, which was broadcast live on state radio and television across the island.***
[Dictator] Castro Defies Fox of Mexico as Once-Warm Ties Sour***While the tape played, Mr. Castro rolled his eyes, as if to mock the Mexican leader's comments. Mr. Fox, a conservative businessman, originally tried to say that Mr. Castro's late notice of attending the conference would not allow Mexico to provide enough security or attention. Ultimately, the two agreed that Mr. Castro would attend a Thursday morning session, make his six-minute presentation and then sit next to Mr. Fox at a lunch. But when Mr. Fox asked him not to "attack the United States or President Bush," Mr. Castro cut him off. "Listen Mr. President, I'm a person who has been in politics for about 43 years and I know what I should do and what I should not do," Mr. Castro said. "You don't need to have any doubts that I know how to tell the truth politely and with the proper elegance." Mr. Castro issued a seven-minute tirade against capitalism and globalization in Monterrey, before some 50 heads of state, and then left in a huff.***
As a matter of fact, two days before this conversation, Castro had told reporters he may not attend the conference and that Hugo Chavez could speak for him. ______________March 17, 2002 - Cuba's Castro Says Venezuelan Chavez Speaks for Him***"Even if I don't go, we, I, feel represented in your words," Castro told Chavez in a telephone call during a marathon live broadcast of the Venezuelan leader's weekly "Hello President" television and radio program. ***