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EU members keen to renew
contacts with Cuba
EUbusiness,
UK, November 26, 2004.
AFP - European Union member states want
to renew their diplomatic contacts with
Cuba, the Dutch EU presidency said Friday,
after Spain became the first in the bloc
to re-establish links with the island since
sanctions were imposed 17 months ago.
"Our common goal is to have contacts
between all the member countries with the
authorities on the island," said spokesman
Frits Kemperman.
The Spanish government stressed on Thursday
that it was keen to see normal relations
resume between the European Union and President
Fidel Castro's Cuba, after its ambassador
met with the island's foreign minister.
The European Union slapped sanctions on
the communist-run island in June 2003, after
Cuban courts sentenced three Cubans to death
for attempting to flee to the United States
and handed down heavy jail sentences to
75 dissidents.
A month ago, a fresh political row erupted
after Cuba refused to grant entry to three
parliamentarians who arrived in Havana to
meet with Cuban dissidents.
After 1996, the EU established a policy
toward Cuba that made improved diplomatic
ties conditional on political changes being
made in the Americas' only communist state.
However, Spain, under its new Socialist
government elected last March, has been
pushing for dialogue with Havana and a "new
type of relationship" in the belief
that sanctions have failed.
EUbusiness
© Copyright EUbusiness Ltd 2004.
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