FACTBOX: Reaction to Cuba's new government

(Reuters) - Cuba picked a new government on Sunday, installing Raul Castro as president after his ailing brother Fidel Castro retired following 49 years in power.

In a sign that change is unlikely to be deep or abrupt, communist party ideologue Jose Ramon Machado Ventura was named first vice president, or Cuba's No. 2.

Here are some quotes on the new government:

-- European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, Louis Michel: "The European Commission stands ready to continue working with the Cuban Government, in coordination with our European Union partners, to improve and deepen cooperation issues of common interest such as the environment and climate change. The objectives of this process remain those of the EU's Common Position and are consistent with the EU's policy of constructive engagement towards Cuba."

-- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, Cuba's main foreign benefactor: "A hug for Comrade Fidel, you will continue being the commander. ... The international campaign has already begun to make people believe that Raul and I are not close, that things will now change. Nothing will change."

-- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice: "At this significant moment in Cuba's history, we reaffirm our belief that the Cuban people have an inalienable right to participate in an open and comprehensive dialogue about their country's future, free of fear and repression and to choose their leaders in democratic elections."

-- U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez, who co-chairs a commission created by the Bush administration to press for a democratic transition in Cuba: "Our policy hasn't changed. We want (the release of) political prisoners, we want freedom. We want freedom of the press, we want freedom of religion, we want freedom for people to read what they want. We want Cuban people to live with a sense of hope and not with a sense of fear."

-- Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a Cuba-born south Florida Republican: "To the long oppressed Cuban people it does not matter one bit who the communist Castro brothers choose as the next face of their oppressive, tyrannical regime. What the Cuban people want is freedom to express their dissent from the oppressive regime and enjoy the liberty and freedom that other nations around the globe have."

-- Andro Nodarse-Leon, a director of the Miami-based and anti-Castro Cuban American National Foundation: "It's unfortunately more of the same coming out of Cuba and no real sign that there is an openness to a changing of the guard or a broader opening to real transition toward having a free and democratic country, which is what Cubans want."

-- Brian Latell, a former CIA analyst: "He (Machado Ventura) certainly does not appeal to the younger generations and his choice does not settle the longer term succession questions."

-- Julia Sweig, senior fellow and expert on Cuba at the Washington-based Council on Foreign Relations: "It's a mistake to think there's an enormous amount of light between any of these people (in the new Cuban government). They're all basically headed in the same direction, with some nuances."

-- Jose Oro, a Cuban exile who headed the government's Mining and Geology Department before fleeing Cuba in 1991: "Everybody understands that Machado Ventura is just a figurehead ... They don't want to decide yet who is the next (president) after Raul Castro."

-- Ninoska Perez, a popular Spanish-language radio commentator in Miami and member of the Cuban Liberty Council, an anti-Castro exile group: "For those who entertain any ideas that there could be changes with Raul Castro I think this should give them a very good answer."

-- Jose Basulto, founder of Brothers to the Rescue, a group that espouses non-violent opposition to Fidel Castro: "There is no such thing as elections in Cuba ... There is actually no change in Cuba taking place."

-- Vietnam Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Le Dung: "We fully believe that in any position, President Fidel Castro will continue to devote his intellectuality to the Cuban revolutionary cause, and contribute to further strengthening and developing the traditional friendship, brotherly solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Cuba."

(Compiled by Tom Brown in Miami; Editing by Michael Christie and Todd Eastham)

(For a TAKE A LOOK on Castro's retirement, click on))