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Chirac welcomes "positive
effects" of Spanish stance on Cuba
Eubusiness,
UK, December 7, 2004.
(AFP) - French President Jacques Chirac
used a bilateral summit meeting with Spain
to describe the recent freeing of several
Cuban political prisoners as a "positive
effect" arising from Spanish attempts
to soften the EU line on relations with
Havana.
Cuba has in recent days released seven
dissidents out of a total of 75 regime opponents
jailed last year in a government crackdown.
The releases came on the back of a meeting
between Spain's ambassador to Cuba, Carlos
Alonso Zaldivar, with Cuban Foreign Minister
Felipe Perez Roque in the first contact
between an EU state and a senior Cuban official
since the European Union imposed sanctions
on the island last year.
The European Union set the sanctions to
protest the crackdown against dissidents
and the execution of three Cubans convicted
of trying to hijack a ferry to the United
States.
Although Washington continues to support
a tough line on Cuba, Chirac praised Spain
for its attempts to restore dialogue with
Havana.
"Truth does not always necessarily
come from the mouth of some (US) State Department
official," said a smiling Chirac when
asked to comment on a recent accusation
by US Undersecretary of State for Latin
American affairs Roger Noriega that Madrid
was making "concessions" to Cuba.
Chirac, speaking after wide-ranging talks
with his host, Spanish Prime Minister Jose
Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, said that France
"perfectly approved" a policy
designed to establish a dialogue with Havana.
"I note that this policy has had positive
effects with the freeing of several personalities,"
said Chirac.
Zapatero meanwhile said he would align
himself with "the evaluation made by
Raul Rivero on the effects of this policy
or that policy," in reference to Cuban
dissident writer Rivero, who on his release
expressed his "eternal gratitude"
to the Spanish government.
Rivero added that hardline policies such
as the US embargo against Cuba were not
working.
EUbusiness
© Copyright EUbusiness Ltd 2004.
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