RAUL CASTRO: SOCIALISM IN CUBA TO STAY!

BBC:

Castro says Cuban system to stay Cuban President Raul Castro says he is willing to enter into dialogue with the US but the island's communist system remains non-negotiable.

Mr Castro said he wanted to respond to recent overtures by Washington. But in a speech that was given a standing ovation in parliament, he also emphasised that he had not been elected to return Cuba to capitalism.

US President Barack Obama has said he wants to "recast" relations with Cuba but the US has also called for reforms. In his speech, Mr Castro acknowledged that there had been less aggression and anti-Cuban rhetoric under the Obama administration.

"I was elected to defend, maintain and continue perfecting socialism - not to destroy it"

AT BEST, OBAMA COULDN'T CARE LESS. PROBABLY - BEING A SOCIALIST TOO - OBAMA'S HAPPY.

• BEFORE CASTRO, CUBA WAS THE SECOND RICHEST NATION IN THE CARIBBEAN.

• NOW, IT'S THE SECOND POOREST; ONLY HAITI IS POORER.

• WHAT CAUSED THIS? SOCIALISM; IT'S THE ROAD TO SERFDOM.

AFTER ALL: PROSPERITY IS A BY-PRODUCT OF LIBERTY.

• LIBERALS IN THE USA THOUGHT RAUL CASTRO WOULD BE THE TENG XIAO PING OF CUBA.

• SORRY: HE AIN'T.

• CUBA NEEDS A REAL REVOLUTION.

• IT WOULD BE NICE IF OUR PRESIDENT SUPPORTED IT.

• BUT OBAMA LIKES CHAVEZ AND CASTRO AND ZELAYA MORE THAN LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.