Cuba-Sweden diplomatic row grows
Sweden's foreign minister is standing by his criticism of Cuba's human
rights record, as a diplomatic row between the two countries shows no
sign of abating.
Cuba responded to Carl Bildt's comments at the UN by deriding what it
called Sweden's imperial past.
Mr Bildt has hit back describing Havana's response as "a desperate
attack by a desperate regime".
He also told the BBC that diplomatic mail at the Swedish embassy in
Havana was being tampered with.
"Whether it is linked to this [row] we don't know, but it happened at
roughly the same time," he told the Europe Today programme.
Viking days
The row dates back to 12 March, when Mr Bildt gave a speech before the
UN Human Rights Council in which he accused Cuba and other countries of
violating human rights.
"Cuba, unlike Sweden, does not persecute migrants or carry out ethnic
cleansing...
Juan Antonio Fernandez Palacios"
Cuban delegate
Following the address, the Cuban representative, Juan Antonio Fernandez
Palacios, accused Sweden of hypocrisy.
He said Mr Bildt's comments recalled "the not-so-glorious days of
Swedish imperialism, which filled with blood and pain their neighbouring
countries".
"Cuba, unlike Sweden, does not persecute migrants or carry out ethnic
cleansing that only allows those whose skin and hair colour fit with the
racial patterns of former Viking conquerors to remain in the country,"
he was then quoted as saying.
Mr Bildt, who said he was taken aback by the Cuban reaction, said he had
"pointed out a fact that was well known to everyone: that they don't
respect human rights in Cuba".
"The Viking days are gone," he said, rejecting the Cuban accusations.
"This is one of the most open countries in Europe in terms of
immigration," he added.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/americas/6483699.stm
Published: 2007/03/23 11:23:38 GMT
Sweden's foreign minister is standing by his criticism of Cuba's human
rights record, as a diplomatic row between the two countries shows no
sign of abating.
Cuba responded to Carl Bildt's comments at the UN by deriding what it
called Sweden's imperial past.
Mr Bildt has hit back describing Havana's response as "a desperate
attack by a desperate regime".
He also told the BBC that diplomatic mail at the Swedish embassy in
Havana was being tampered with.
"Whether it is linked to this [row] we don't know, but it happened at
roughly the same time," he told the Europe Today programme.
Viking days
The row dates back to 12 March, when Mr Bildt gave a speech before the
UN Human Rights Council in which he accused Cuba and other countries of
violating human rights.
"Cuba, unlike Sweden, does not persecute migrants or carry out ethnic
cleansing...
Juan Antonio Fernandez Palacios"
Cuban delegate
Following the address, the Cuban representative, Juan Antonio Fernandez
Palacios, accused Sweden of hypocrisy.
He said Mr Bildt's comments recalled "the not-so-glorious days of
Swedish imperialism, which filled with blood and pain their neighbouring
countries".
"Cuba, unlike Sweden, does not persecute migrants or carry out ethnic
cleansing that only allows those whose skin and hair colour fit with the
racial patterns of former Viking conquerors to remain in the country,"
he was then quoted as saying.
Mr Bildt, who said he was taken aback by the Cuban reaction, said he had
"pointed out a fact that was well known to everyone: that they don't
respect human rights in Cuba".
"The Viking days are gone," he said, rejecting the Cuban accusations.
"This is one of the most open countries in Europe in terms of
immigration," he added.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/americas/6483699.stm
Published: 2007/03/23 11:23:38 GMT
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