Ok, not exactly what he said, but same message.

Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque today said President Fidel Castro was still recovering from his operation last year and was keeping busy, having personally instructed him on his visit to Brazil.

While attending the Forum for East Asia Latin American Co-operation (FEALAC), Roque, in an interview with AFP, dispelled rumours about Castro’s health taking a turn for the worse since his 81st birthday on August 13.

Castro, who after stomach surgery a year ago handed over power to his brother Raul, “is steady, on track with his recovery, showing discipline, a lot of dedication and a lot of activity, writing, reading and working,” Roque said.

While he may still be alive, I don’t trust the Foreign Minister on his recovery part. Fidel didn’t appear in public for his birthday, no pictures were published, and he hasn’t actually been seen in the public eye for over a year. Raul still holds all of the power, and there was apparently less fuss about bis birthday this year, than normal.

For now, at least, it seems he lives. Damn it.