is poised to lead his country into the next millennium after nearly four decades in power. He toppled right-wing dictator Fulgencio Batista in a 1959 revolution. Castro's brother and designated eventual successor, Defense Minister Raul Castro, who is 66, was reelected as first vice- President. Five other vice-presidents of the 31-member ruling Council of State were also reappointed in the National Assembly vote, which basically retained intact the whole top level of the Cuban state hierarchy. Castro, his brother and the five vice-presidents all received 100 percent of the votes of the 595 deputies present from the assembly. Under Cuba's constitution, it has the responsibility of electing the state leadership. Foreign diplomats said the intention behind the leadership vote appeared to be to maintain political continuity and stability at a time when Cuba's communist rulers were trying to consolidate a fragile economic recovery while resisting economic and political pressure from the United States. The U. S. government maintains a long-standing economic embargo against the island in a bid to force the Cuban government to abandon one-party communism. After the leadership election, Castro made a rambling speech, studded with historical references, in which he defended Cuba's socialist system and one-party elections. "That is the Revolution... the continuity of the Revolution," he said. Despite the reconfirmation of the top leadership figures, some new blood was injected into the Council of State through the election of 14 new faces. The newcomers included at least three government technocrats who have been involved in modernizing Cuba's economy and legislation as the island cautiously opens up to tourism and foreign investment. These were Economy Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez, Labor Minister Salvador Valdes and Justice Minister Roberto Diaz Sotolongo. Fidel Castro is the world's second longest-serving leader, surpassed only by King Hussein of Jordan.