Meeting with the Cuban Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs on the UNSG Question

"In my stay in Cuba, I had not raised the matter myself either with the Minister or Fidel, but the Foreign Minister did something on the eve of my departure which was, in my opinion, a clear and unequivocal commitment on Cuba's part for my candidature.

The Bodequitais renown not only for its historic significance, but also for the graffiti which has been done over the years on the walls of the restaurant. Indeed all famous and not so famous personalities who have visited the place have invariably written something. Towards the end of the dinner the Foreign Minister asked me whether I would mind if he wrote something also. Of course I had no objections. I was naturally surprised when what he wrote on the wal l related to the question of the Secretary- Generalship. He wrote the following in spanish: "Aqui estuvo el proximo Secretario General de la O.N.U. Salim Ahmed Salim - 9/viii/80 (Signed)." Briefly translated the inscription read "Here was the next Secretary-General of the United Nations, Salim Ahmed Salim (date and signature)" In a sense this was a public endorsement of my possible candidature and it was, I suppose, a definite response to the Cuban position." - Dr. Salim, August 5, 1980