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EU commissioner: talks with Cuban leader "very
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EU commissioner: talks with Cuban leader "very
effective"
Visiting European Union (EU)
commissioner Louis Michel said here Saturday that his meeting with Cuban
leader Fidel Castro was very effective.
The Cuban leader shared EU's interest in strengthening ties and tackling
sensitive issues such as human rights and the island's political
prisoners, Michel said after four-hour talks with Castro.
Michel's visit came as Cuba campaigns to rally support for its annual
fight against a US-backed resolution on its human rights record. The
resolution will be voted on next month at the meeting of the UN Human
Rights Commission.
The two discussed all issues, including the difficult and sensitive
ones, and there is a common interest to relaunch a political dialogue,
said Michel, who said he had a " very good impression" of Castro.
The issue of human rights has strained Cuba-EU relations for several
years. Two years ago, the EU imposed sanctions against Cuba after Havana
sentenced 75 activists to long prison terms.
But a new chapter was opened earlier this year when European nations
temporarily lifted the sanctions, partly in response to Cuba's release
last year of some of the prisoners. The EU will consider whether to
re-impose the sanctions in this summer.
Michel's visit coincided with a weeklong trip here by a dozen EU
lawmakers, who also met with senior Cuban leaders.
Miguel Martinez, head of the legislative group, said Saturday at a press
conference he had great expectations for the EU-Cuba relations and that
the EU wants to advance its relations with Havana.
He said he had found among Cuban leaders "flexibility, comprehension,
common sense and a will to continue with contacts."
Martinez expressed sympathy for the Cuban government, saying itfaced
discrimination on many levels.
The Spanish lawmaker highlighted the importance of EU-Cuba relations,
warning poor bilateral relations will be "negative to everyone."
In regard to the EU review in June on its sanctions against Cuba,
Martinez said there is no way to re-introduce the sanctions "due to
their own absurd weight."
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