Friday 24 October 2008, San José, Costa
Rica
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Cuba, EU Re-Establish
Cooperative Ties
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Cuba, EU Re-Establish
Cooperative Ties
HAVANA - Cuban Foreign
Minister Felipe Perez
Roque and European
Commissioner of
Development and
Humanitarian Aid, Louis
Michel, signed a
declaration on Thursday
to restore the bilateral
cooperation at the
headquarters of the
Cuban Foreign Ministry
in Havana.
During the meeting both
sides hailed the
restoration of the
bilateral ties, which
are based on the
principle of reciprocal
and non-discriminatory
treatment, with respect
for each other's
sovereignty.
Michel said he was
pleased with the
agreement, and
reaffirmed the European
Union (EU)'s intentions
to strengthen ties with
Cuba.
He also announced an
emergency aid worth 2
million euros (2.6
million U.S. dollars) to
help Cuba recover from
hurricanes Gustav and
Ike, which have produced
more than 5 billion
dollars in losses.
The EU will also provide
25 million to 30 million
euros (32.5 million and
39 million dollars) to
Cuba from next year to
rebuild schools and
damaged houses.
The EU has a "very
strong willingness to
make the best efforts"
to reestablish the
cooperation with Cuba,
Michel said.
The agreement is an
important step forward
toward the normalization
and advancement of the
bilateral ties, as well
as the beginning of a
new stage for their
relations, Perez said.
In 2003, the EU imposed
sanctions on Cuba, which
were suspended in 2005
and were totally lifted
at the EU summit in June
2008.
The EU delegation
arrived here on
Wednesday and will stay
in Cuba till Sunday for
meetings with Cuban
leaders. It will also
visit hurricane-hit
regions in the Caribbean
country.
Michel's visit came one
week after the restart
of the political
dialogue between both
sides during a
ministerial meeting in
Paris.
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