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MT INT Castro gives conference.
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MV Pressmen
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CU Castro speaking
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MV Press.
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MV Castro speaking
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CU Pressmen asking questions.
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MV & CU Castro speaking (4 shots).
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TELERECORDING

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Cuban premier Fidel Castro gave a news conference in Santiago on Friday (3 December) at the close of his 25-day visit to Chile. He left Chile on Saturday and is stopping in Peru and Equador on his way back to Cuba.

During the press conference, Dr. Castro denounced United States imperialism in Latin America while admitting it had some success in slowing down the revolutionary process in the sub-continent.

SYNOPSIS: The Prime Minister of Cuba Fidel Castro gave a press conference in Santiago on Friday, the eve of his departure from Chile. Fidel Castro has been visiting Chile for the last twenty five days, the longest visit of any foreign Head of State to Chile. Dr. Castro was in a good mood during the conference, and hinted broadly that he would renew diplomatic relations with Peru and Equador. On his way back to Cuba, Dr. Castro is to visit these two countries. He also denounced United States imperialism in South America - but admitted that the revolutionary process there had been slowed down.

Dr. Castro said that Cuba was in no hurry to re-establish relations with South American countries - what mattered he said, was their attitude to real independence. On hijackings, Dr. Castro said he would discuss the return of aircraft hijacked to Cuba, if the United States would include Cuban boats hijacked to America. During the last days of Dr. Castro's stay here, a state of emergency was declared after the largest anti-government demonstrations since the marxist Dr. Allende was elected to power fourteen months ago.