HAVANA: Cuban President Fidel Castro said the worst part of his health crisis was over and that he would attend the Non-Aligned Movement summit here next week, in a handwritten statement published on Tuesday.
"You can say the most critical moment is behind me," Castro said in the statement, published Tuesday in the official daily Granma and accompanied by dozens of snapshots.
"Today I'm recovering at a satisfactory pace. I'll be receiving distinguished visitors over the next few days," he wrote.
"That doesn't mean that every activity (of mine) will be immediately covered by film and photos, although news coverage will always be provided."
Cubans had last seen images of Castro on Friday, when video pictures showed him chatting in his sickbed with visiting Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.
On August 14, the day after his 80th birthday, he issued a statement.
Prior to that, Castro had not been seen since before July 31, when a statement was read on his behalf on television, saying he had undergone surgery and had temporarily handed over power to brother Raul.
No concrete information is available on the status of Castro's health, guarded as "a state secret" by the Communist government, which fears it could be used by Cuba's enemies.
Castro, who in the latest pictures is dressed in blue or white pyjamas, said he had lost 18.5 kilograms in a few days and that after 34 days of convalescence doctors had removed the last stitches from his intestinal operation.
He referred to Friday's video images and said: "Some people, with reason, said I looked a little thinner, as the only thing unfavorable. I'm very happy they recognized that."
He said "not a single day" went by, even at the start of his illness, without him making "an effort to overcome the adverse political consequences of such an unexpected health problem," adding that progress had been made in "several important issues".
The images had fueled speculation over Castro's participation at the Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement, to take place in Havana September 11-16.
Delegates from 116 member countries and at least 50 heads of state are expected at the summit, at which Castro is to become president of the Non-Aligned Movement for the first time in 27 years.
The approach of the summit had generated expectations of a public appearance by Castro or his brother Raul, 75, in the latter's international debut as host and acting head of state.
It is the first time in almost 48 years that Fidel Castro has ceded the reins of power to his brother, who is defense minister and his designated successor.
Castro's temporary exit from power had also generated much speculation about the future of the Communist-ruled island, amid stepped-up calls from Washington for a political transition to democracy.
But in the month since, life has continued as before in Cuba. The government has renewed its structure to ensure the continuity of the Communist system on the island of 11.2 million people, who for half a century have known no leader other than Fidel Castro.
