Fidel Castro in New York in 1959 (Photographer: Alejandro Saavedra/photo courtesy of Mike Wilkins)

Fidel Castro made his first public appearance in five years today as his brother Raul was officially made head of Cuba’s ruling Communist Party. Raul Castro took over the presidency from Fidel five years ago. Anchor Lisa Mullins speaks with professor Andy Gomez of the University of Miami about the significance of the announcement.

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LISA MULLINS: I’m Lisa Mullins, and this is The World.  Today Fidel Castro made his first public appearance in Cuba since he handed over power to his brother Raul five years ago.  Party leaders gave Fidel a rousing welcome.

[rally, cheering in Spanish]

MULLINS: The two Castros received a long standing ovation today, followed by a rendition of the Cuban national anthem.

[music of Cuban national anthem, group singing in Spanish]

MULLINS: This all took place before the Communist Party Congress in Havana.  Now Raul Castro is already President, but today he officially succeeded his brother as head of Cuba’s ruling Communist Party.  The Party also named a new slate of leaders, most of them who are in their 70s and 80s.  Andy Gomez is Assistant Provost and Senior Fellow of the Cuban Institute of the University of Miami.  Professor, we know that Raul Castro and brother Fidel called for fresh faces and new ideas in the top leadership of Cuba.  Did they get it?

ANDY GOMEZ: Well, no they didn’t.  And those Cuban that are young that were told that they are the ones responsible for carrying the revolution forward should be a little bit disappointed, because what Raul and the Power Bureau did was keep the old power in place.

MULLINS: So what’s going on, because we have heard about economic opportunities, some new market forces including the possible buying and selling of homes by Cubans?

GOMEZ: Yes.

MULLINS: Why is that not reflected in the new Communist Party Congress?

GOMEZ: Well, because we’re beginning to see very clearly that they wanna control the political system in itself.  What they’re opening up is the economic reforms, which they were voted on, all 300 plus, trying to improve the conditions of those Cubans that live on the island.  Now that’s gonna be tough.  Telling Cubans that you can buy property, telling Cubans you can start your own business¦ where are you gonna borrow the money from? Where are you actually ; how people are gonna pay for those services.  I give Raul six months to a year to meet the basic needs of the Cuban people: more food, better shelter, better health care, better education.  If that doesn’t happen within the year, I think you can see social unrest in Cuba.

MULLINS: But what about Fidel? He’s 84 years old right now- came in surrounded by body guards, dressed in his blue track suit, looking better than he has in the past, being greeted by roars of applause.  Does he have any more say in the government now?

GOMEZ: I think that Fidel has a say in the government, just for the fact that Raul has been next to him all his life. Fidel will concentrate or, or will be asked for advice on international issues.

MULLINS: And what does that mean for US-Cuban relations?

GOMEZ: Oh I think US-Cuban relations have come now to the old Cold War, at a standstill. The Obama administration is not gonna be willing to give them any more concessions.  It is up to Cuba to make the next move.

MULLINS: We’re speaking to you in Miami – how about,  especially in Miami, Cubans who are so active in Cuban American affairs, is this going to effect your relationship at all?

GOMEZ: [Under]stand that the Cuban American community in Miami has changed tremendously.  We are concerned about Cuba but it’s not on the top priority, and we proved that when we conducted a poll scientifically during the last presidential election.  Most Cuban Americans were concerned about the economy and the war in Iraq than they were on Cuba.

MULLINS: That’s Andy Gomez, the Assistant Pro Senior Fellow at the Cuban Institute at the University of Miami.

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