·Cuba is open to dialogue with U.S. President-elect Barack Obama, Fidel Castro said.

·But Cuba is not to "negotiate" over its sovereignty, Fidel Castro said.

·He warns Obama that "the carrot and the stick" approach will never work with the Latin American nation.

    HAVANA, Dec. 5 (Xinhua) -- Cuba is open to dialogue with U.S. President-elect Barack Obama, but not to "negotiate" over its sovereignty, Fidel Castro, the country's former leader, said in an article published on Friday.

    Cuba can hold talks with Obama at any place he wants but the president-elect should be aware that "the carrot and the stick" approach will never work with the Latin American nation, Castro wrote in the signed article "Sailing against the tide," which was carried out by the official newspaper Granma.

    Raul Castro, president of the council of the state of Cuba, said in a November interview with American actor Sean Penn that he was willing to talk with Obama in a "neutral place," such as the U.S. Navy Station at Guantanamo Bay.

Obama team has no comment on Castro story

    WASHINGTON, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- The transition team of U.S. President-elect Barack Obama on Wednesday declined to comment on a report that Cuban leader Raul Castro is open to meet Obama.

    According to an article published on the website of the Nation magazine, Raul Castro, president of the Council of the State of Cuba, told U.S. actor Sean Penn in an interview that Guantanamo Bay could serve as "neutral ground" for such a meeting.  Full story