Intil Expressions of Sympathy for Death of Cuban Minister

Havana, Sep 6. – Condolences have poured into Cuba from around the world for the death of Army Corps General Julio Casas Regueiro, Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR), who died on Saturday of heart failure.

Casas Regueiro, 75, was also vice president of the Council of State and a member of the Political Bureau of the Cuban Communist Party.

In Tunisia and Cairo, the Cuban embassies opened books of condolence.

In China, authorities and representatives of accredited diplomatic personnel in that nation signed a book of condolence at the Cuban embassy for the decease of FAR minister Julio Casas Regueiro.

The first to pay tribute to the late Cuban combatant was Chen Fengxiang, deputy director of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC), who did so on behalf of the Central Committee of that organization.

In France, representatives of Cuba solidarity and friendship organizations joined members of the island's embassy in that country to express their sorrow at the death of Casas Regueiro.

In North Korea, a high-ranking delegation led by Army General Pak Jae Kyong signed a book of condolence at the Cuban embassy.

On behalf of the North Korean authorities, People's Army and people, the deputy defense minister offered his deepest sympathies to the leadership of the Cuban State, Party and FAR, as well as relatives of Casas Requeiro.

In Russia, the Cuban embassy in that country opened a book of condolence today, and it was signed by embassy staff.

"We join in our people's tribute to a person who has been linked to the country's development and especially the FAR for over 50 years," Cuban Ambassador Juan Valdes Figueroa stated.

The Cuban government on Monday declared three days of mourning.

Casas Regueiro was born on February 16, 1936 in the eastern Cuban town of Mayari Arriba.(Prensa Latina)