(updates with statements by Chavez and other details)
Havana, 25 mar (EFE).-the Venezuela President, Hugo Chávez, is again in Havana where has already begun his treatment of radiotherapy, at a time when the island is preparing tomorrow for the visit of Pope Benedict XVI.
On the last midnight Hugo Chávez arrived at the airport of Havana where he was seen “very animated” off his plane and where he was received by his counterpart and ally, Raúl Castro, with “a warm hug of welcome”, said today the Cuban press.
Has little passed over one week since last stay of Chávez in Cuba, where he spent 21 days (from February 24 to March 16th) by a new operation which had its removed a malignant tumor of two centimeters, recurrence of the cancer that was also spoken on the island in June of 2011.
In a telephone call to the Venezuelan State television, Chavez explained that he received last night the first session of radiotherapy of the five to be submitted in the next few days on the island.
The representative added that Thursday will return to Caracas.
“must be in Venezuela, God willing, Thursday 29 (…) and will after two days, rather three days, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, return (to Cuba) for five sessions more”, said.
On this occasion, the arrival of Chavez to Havana occurs when the island is engaged in the reception of Pope Benedict XVI, who is attending his second visit to Latin America with a tour of Cuba and Mexico.
After passing through Mexican land, the Pontiff begin his visit to Cuba in the city East of Santiago, where he will be received by President Raúl Castro and where records his first mass open-air on the island tomorrow.
Tuesday 27 Pope Benedict XVI will visit the sanctuary of the Virgin of copper, patron saint of the island, and will fly to Havana where will conclude his trip Wednesday 28 after a mass in the emblematic Plaza de la Revolución expected crowd.
Stay of Hugo Chávez in Cuba during the papal visit invites some to think on the assumption that the Pontiff see Venezuelan President in Havana.
“He says that Chávez, Fidel, Raúl Castro and Pope Benedict XVI could be found in Havana,” wrote today on the Twitter social network a Cuban official blogger known as Yohandry.
Thereon, from León, Mexico, Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman told reporters: “I knew nothing about it (the journey of Chavez), but I don’t think there is a concrete possibility that are, I would be surprised if much”.
“So far have not received any request for a hearing, although everything can change.” This is new (the presence of Chávez in Cuba coinciding with the papal trip) and was not in the program. “I can only insist on that so far I have no news on that eventual request for meeting with the Pope,” said Lombardi.
Hugo Chavez underwent surgery on June 10, 2011 pelvic abscess in Havana, at the end of a tour of Brazil, Ecuador and Cuba, and later he detected cancer in the same area which was operated.
Then has returned to the island on six occasions (including this) to receive chemotherapy or undergo medical check-ups.
During the stays of Chávez in Cuba, authorities on the island have kept an absolute secrecy about their State of health and it is same Venezuelan President or members of his Government who reported their situation through Venezuelan media or or treatments it receives.
Chavez, who has refused to have metastases, it aspirará in the presidential election of 7 October next for his third re-election against the candidate of the opposition, Henrique Capriles.
Venezuela is the main political ally and largest trading partner of Cuba, and bilateral exchange rose from $ 200 million in 2005 to more than 6 billion in 2010, a volume of trade which is almost 40 per cent of the total of the island.
Venezuela provides Cuba of 100,000 barrels of crude oil daily that Cuba pays partly with medical, educational and recreational services. EFE
sam/acb
