President Medvedev congratulates Raul Castro upon 80th birthday

MOSCOW, June 4 (Itar-Tass) -- Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has
congratulated the chairman of Cuba's State Council and Council of
Ministers, Raul Castro, upon his 80th birthday and talked with him on the
phone. The Kremlin's press-service said that the two men "spoke highly of
the steady onward development of Russian-Cuban cooperation."
Medvedev has also sent a congratulatory message to Raul Castro on the
occasion of his anniversary. The message, in particular, runs: "All your
life is a sample service to the motherland and the people. You are marking
this significant date as a recognized national leader, who has made a
significant contribution to the development of Cuba, to strengthening its
role and influence in Latin America and the world arena.
"These days your rich life experience and inexhaustible energy help
you carry out socio-economic and democratic reforms aimed at improving the
welfare and quality of life of citizens. I sincerely wish you success in
achieving the set goals," the Russian president wrote in the letter to the
Cuban leader. "We know you as a great friend of our country. I highly
appreciate your personal contribution to strengthening the traditionally
friendly Russian-Cuban relations. At present, bilateral relations have
become more meaningful, enriched with new and exciting initiatives and
projects. Russia is ready for further full-fledged and long-term
cooperation with Cuba to the benefit of our countries and peoples in the
interests of stability and security in the region and the world over. "