CUBA , June 18, 2007.- Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega concluded this weekend a visit to Cuba , the last stop of a tour that also took him to Venezuela , Libya , Algeria , Iran and Senegal . During his stay on the island, the Nicaraguan president met Saturday with Cuban President Fidel Castro for four hours. During their meeting, both leaders analyzed the results of several projects such as Operation Miracle -- the eye-surgery program for low-income Latin Americans; the literacy program "Yo sí puedo" (Yes, I Can), which has been successfully implemented in Nicaragua by the Sandinista Front after their electoral victory; the Energy Revolution in the Central American nation; climate change and bio-fuels, among other topics. The meeting was a new step towards the strengthening of bilateral relations. The Cuban leader thanked the visitor for denouncing the case of international terrorist Luis Posada Carriles, protected by the U.S. government, and for his country's solidarity with Cuba . Ortega came along with his wife, Rosario Murillo, who is the coordinator of the Civic Responsibility and Communications Council of the Nicaraguan Presidency. She told reporters: "We saw Fidel very healthy, full of vitality, and especially, very lucid". She explained that the Cuban leader has given priority to cooperation programs in the health sector, particularly, field hospitals soon to be set up on the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua ; and the ophthalmologic centers to conduct operations as part of Operation Miracle. During their visit to Cuba , the Nicaraguan delegation also met with other high-ranking officials, including First Vice President Raúl Castro. (Cubaminrex-PL)
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