8-2-06, 8:30 pm

BY RAISA PAGES—Granma daily staff writer—

HAVANA -- The most important thing is that the country is running perfectly well, affirmed Fidel in his message sent August 1 to the Informative Roundtable.

The love, respect and consideration that Fidel has won in the world, as opposed to the media campaigns of the U.S. empire against his revolutionary work and moral stature, are confirmed in the thousands of messages that have come in from all over the world wishing him a speedy recovery.

Statespersons, political figures, intellectuals, Cubans cooperating on various continents and citizens from all over have transmitted their solidarity with the president at this difficult time.

They include Hu Jintao, general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party; Latin American presidents like Hugo Chávez, Evo Morales, Martín Torrijos, Alfredo Palacios, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva; and high-ranking leaders from other continents.

An air of tranquility, confidence and security was palpable in the streets, work places and on works under construction. The accredited news agencies in Cuba reflected that calm.

The fact that the leader of the Revolution has provisionally delegated his functions to Raúl Castro is not only within the parameters of the Constitution of the Republic, but is an act of historical justice.

Raúl was the organizer of the Revolutionary Armed Forces and the Party within those commands. In the early years of the revolutionary struggle he earned the historical right to give continuity to the process, something natural for the Cuban people.

The pretensions of the U.S. government to send rapid deployment forces to Cuba once Fidel is deceased are within the enemy’s plans. The president warned of that danger in his Announcement.

Miami is the sole exception. In that city the hatred that fuels the wish for the death of a human being was expressed.

What could be expected of those who hoped that the airplane returning the child Elián González to his homeland would crash, what could be expected of people who talk of the freedom of Cuba with U.S. flags and placards in English in their hands?

It pains them that everything is proceeding calmly in Cuba. Fidel remains stable in his process of recovery, the people are united, and Raúl and a team of leaders are in charge of political, economic and social happenings in the country.

From Granma Online