The Cuban Council of Ministers, presided over by President Raul Castro, discussed issues related to the updating of Cuba''s economic model, Granma newspaper reported today.

According to the daily, the basic concepts that should rule in relations among different government levels to separate state from managerial functions, increase companies' faculties, and raise their responsibilities in efficiency and resources control, were part of the discussion.

Leonardo Andollo, second chief of the Permanent Commission on Implementation and Development of the Updating, said those principles will be applied in a gradual and sustained manner, closely related to the functional improvement of Cuban entities and the managerial system.

The ministers consider management training to be a priority in the institutional restructuring.

Granma also highlights the presentation of the policy proposal for the drafting of a law on functions and police services.

Andollo stressed the need to provide a law to ensure public order, defense and protection of citizens' rights.

Cooperation with state bodies and agencies, economic entities, social institutions, and citizens, as well as strengthened authority, protection, and legal support of such forces, are part of that law.