"I have known several politicians, but none has ever had Fidel Castro s deep intellectuality and human dimension," said outstanding Brazilian economist and university professor Theotonio Dos Santos.

In an article published by Granma newspaper Friday, Dos Santos states that, "no politician has managed to maintain the systematic study of a problem for hours and hours in all details and aspects like Fidel does."

"None," said the economist, "is capable of being in an academic meeting for hours, much less for several days, from 9:00 in the morning to 12 midnight, as I have seen him do several times."

The Brazilian professor noted, "When Fidel
Castro addresses a meeting is very difficult to stop him. He listens, takes down notes, responds exactly to what he is questioned, and expresses human respect, but above all he is the only politician at head of State level who debates openly with those who differ from his points of view."

Dos Santos said that he gives this incomplete, but sincere testimony on occasion of the Cuban leader s 80th birthday, and above all at a moment of his recovery from complicated surgery, and he hopes he will get well