Castro meets with Ali, Asner as visit to Cuba ends

CNN 12 September 1998 Castro meets with Ali, Asner as visit to Cuba ends

                  HAVANA (AP) -- Cuban leader Fidel Castro made a surprise visit to
                  boxer Muhammad Ali and actor Ed Asner at a reception marking the end of
                  their visit to Cuba.

                  "He (Castro) expressed deep gratitude and deep appreciation for
                  everybody," said Bob Schwartz, executive director of the New York-based
                  Disarm Education Fund.

                  Ali and Asner, along with their wives, spent three days touring Cuban
                  hospitals and clinics with representatives of the Disarm Education Fund and
                  Santa Barbara, Calif.-based Direct Relief International.

                  With the help of funds raised by Ali and Asner, the groups have provided
                  medicines and medical supplies to Cuba. Ali and Asner left Cuba on
                  Saturday afternoon.

Schwartz said Castro stayed at the Friday evening reception for about two
hours.

"I was surprised by his deep knowledge of how the Cuban health care
system works," said Schwartz, who talked to Castro for about 40 minutes.

                  The Cuba health care system, long considered one of the finest in the
                  developing world, has deteriorated in recent years. Cuban officials blame the
                  36-year-old U.S. embargo intended to force democratic changes in Cuba;
                  U.S. officials blame Cuba's socialist economy and a cutoff of aid by the
                  former Soviet Union.