Cuba-Joins Rio Group of Nations.

CUBA.

IN FROM THE COLD.

Cuba, who have freed up the farming sector in recent months, with the allocation of small farms to anyone who would work them, was on Tuesday, was welcomed into the Rio Group of Latin American Nations, after 50 years in the wilderness.

This has been a smack in the face for the Bush administration, who have been trying to exert pressure, to bar Cuba from joining any organizations.

The move was made during a brief meeting, at the annual summit of the nations being held in Brazil this week.

Mexican President Felipe Calderon, said " we welcome Cuba in to the Rio Group and we are certain your participation will strengthen our ties".

The Island was hit by three hurricanes this season, the whole farming industry was swept away, buildings, homes and crops.

Support was sent from Brazil, Venezuela, Argentina, Russia and China.

The present US sanctions, meant there was no building materials in the Island to re-build.

Prior to the communist government in 1958, Cuba was a world leader in the export of sugar, tobacco and coffee.