Fidel Castro breaks silence and comments on US relations

Former president Fidel Castro has broken his silence over Cuba and the United States’ move to restore full diplomatic relations, saying that although he does not trust Washington’s politics,

differences between the nations should be resolved through co-operation.

Mr Castro, 88, made the comments in a statement sent to a student federation and read at the University of Havana.

“I don’t trust the politics of the United States, nor have I exchanged a word with them, but this does not mean I reject a pacific solution to the conflicts,” he wrote.

He said he would always defend co-operation and friendship among the world’s peoples, including Cuba’s adversaries.

They are the first comments Mr Castro has made on the negotiations launched by his brother, President Raul Castro.