EU considers Cuba strategy

EU considers Cuba strategy
AP
Tuesday 13th June, 2006 Posted: 01:25 CIT (06:25 GMT)

LUXEMBOURG (AP) – The European Union said Monday it would craft a
long–term strategy for pushing democratic change in Cuba, but stopped
short of considering the renewal of sanctions that were lifted last year.

EU foreign ministers deplored the state of human rights on the
communist, Caribbean island, and urged Havana to free all political
prisoners. They said they would strive for a dialogue with both the
official Cuban authorities and the political opposition.

"The EU would welcome the resumption of a political dialogue with the
Cuban authorities. This dialogue should include the issue of human
rights and take place on a reciprocal basis," the ministers said in the
conclusions of their meeting.

Diplomats said the EU would not reintroduce sanctions against Cuba this
year, but may re–evaluate the situation next year.

Czech Foreign Minister Cyril Svoboda said the EU needed a strategy not
only for the near–term, but also for when Cuban leader Fidel Castro –
who turns 80 in August – dies.

"It is important to stress that Castro will not rule forever. We need a
strategy for the period of transformation and national reconciliation,"
he told reporters.

Support within the EU for a tougher stance on Cuba is strongest in the
eight eastern European nations that joined the bloc in 2004 and are
still living with the legacy of communism.

The Netherlands and Sweden also favor a tougher stance, but Spain is
among countries that oppose it.

Czech officials said that while Europe’s policies have failed to foster
a measure of democracy in Cuba, Castro has been encouraged by the
emergence of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

Venezuela is a major supplier of oil to the United States, but its
diplomatic relations with Washington have deteriorated.

A Castro ally, Chavez has called U.S. President George W. Bush an
alcoholic, a terrorist and an imperialist. He has denounced the U.S.–led
war in Iraq, and repeatedly accused the U.S. of trying to overthrow him
to seize the South American country’s vast oil reserves. Washington has
denied it has any plans for an invasion.

The EU imposed sanctions on Cuba in 2003 after Cuban authorities
detained 75 dissidents, who were accused of working with the United
States to undermine the Castro’s government – charges the activists and
Washington deny.

The activists received long prison terms. Cuban authorities have since
released 15 of the prisoners for medical reasons, and in January 2005
the EU lifted its sanctions, which had included shunning high–level
talks with Cuban officials.

In December, Castro’s government did not allow a women’s group demanding
the liberation of Cuban political prisoners to travel to Strasbourg,
France, in time to receive the EU’s top human rights prize.

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