-DATE- 19881201 -YEAR- 1988 -DOCUMENT_TYPE- INTERVIEW -AUTHOR- F.CASTRO -HEADLINE- CASTRO TALKS WITH MEXICAN PRESS -PLACE- MEXICO CITY -SOURCE- HAVANA TELEVISION SVC -REPORT_NBR- FBIS -REPORT_DATE- 19881201 -TEXT- Talks to Mexican Press FL0212024888 Havana Television Service in Spanish 0100 GMT 1 Dec 88 [Text] We report to you from Mexico City. President Commander in Chief Fidel Castro is in the Aztec capital to attend the inauguration ceremony of President-elect Carlos Salinas de Gortari. The chief of the Cuban revolution arrived in the Mexican capital this afternoon. A Cuban television news services crew transmits for your from the Aztex capital. [Begin recording] [Video shows Castro getting off plane and being greeted by a group of people; Castro is then seen speaking to the press] [First reporter] Mr President, how significant is your visit to Mexico after 30 years? [Castro] First, I would like to tell you that I had an excellent trip. The weather was very good. I was surprised to see how much the city has grown in 32 years. I am really very pleased for setting foot on Mexican soil once more, 32 years after I left. It was more or less on 24, yes on 24 November 1956. I am truly very pleased. [First reporter] How do you see the (?level) of democracy in Mexico? [Castro] This is a different kind of question which departs form the greetings you asked me for. [Second reporter] What do you think about Gorbachev's visit to Cuba? [Castro] Well, we expect him within a few days. We are very pleased. I believe it is going to be very useful for relations between Cuba and the USSR. They are very good, of course. This visit will help to make them closer. [First reporter] Will you hold a bilateral meeting? [Castro] Well, it depends. The only thing I have is the official program. [First reporter] When do you return? [Castro] As soon as possible to avoid creating work for people here in Mexico, especially for you reporters, so you can rest because I imagine you have a lot of work these days. [First reporter] Commander, since you have not been here for many years.... [Castro, interrupting] Are you the owner of the press or what? What is this? [First reporter] [laughter] What kind of greetings would you give the Mexican people? [Castro] An embrace to the Mexican people. I would like to tell them that I am deeply moved for being here in this city, in this country, again because it is very loved and dear. For us, it is like a second fatherland. Thank you very much. [end recording] -END-