WASHINGTON - The White House said Tuesday that democracy would "soon" come to Cuba, one day after ailing Cuban leader Fidel Castro said in a letter read on television there that he would not cling to office.
"It's an interesting letter. It's hard to make out what he is saying or what he means, as is not unusual, and so we're just continuing to work for democracy on the island and we believe that that day will come soon," said spokeswoman Dana Perino.
Castro stoked speculation about his political future in a message read on Cuban television in which he also said he would not block the rise of a new generation of leaders.
"My basic duty is not to cling to office, nor even more so to obstruct the rise of people much younger, but to pass on experiences and ideas whose modest value arises from the exceptional era in which I lived," said Castro, who stepped aside from Cuba's presidency "temporarily" nearly 17 months ago after undergoing surgery.
Castro, 81, appeared to hint in his letter that he would leave the country's top leadership to his brother Raul Castro, 76, who has served as interim leader since July 31, 2006.
The State Department's deputy spokesman Tom Casey said there was nothing new in Castro's statement.
"Listening to Fidel talk about what happens after him. You know, it's the old country song 'how can we miss you if you won't ever leave.' And I'm also not sure, when he's referring to the younger generation, whether he means young guys like his 78-year-old brother," Casey said.
"There have been many statements that Fidel has made before that are similar to this. I don't think we put particular stock in it," he added.
"What would be a wonderful thing would be for the Cuban people to be allowed to choose their leaders in a free and fair election and unfortunately that's certainly not anything he apparently has in his plans," Casey said.
Castro has not been seen in public other than on television since his surgery, but weekly opinion pieces of his on global affairs have been published in Cuba's newspapers since March.
Questions about his political future arose after he was nominated as a candidate to the National Assembly earlier this month, making him officially eligible to resume the presidency if he should be elected to the assembly in January.
ok-lc/mdl

12/18/2007 16:26 GMT