Posted on Mon, Jun. 16, 2008
Associated Press
LUXEMBOURG --
The Czech Republic and Sweden said Monday they would likely block
efforts to lift European Union sanctions against Cuba unless it improves
its respect for human rights.
Many EU countries, led by Spain, are eager to improve ties with Cuba's
new leader, Raúl Castro, who took over from his ailing brother, Fidel
Castro, last year. These countries want the 27-nation EU to lift the
diplomatic sanctions it imposed five years ago.
The oddity about this debate, however, is that the sanctions are not
even in effect at the moment. They have been suspended since 2005.
But European Union officials, along with Spain, are pushing to have the
EU scrap the sanctions altogether in an overture to show Cuba that the
EU is ready to rebuild ties.
Diplomats said the plan would ''recognize changes in Cuba'' in improving
rights for its citizens. It would also continue an annual review of
human rights in Cuba -- and leave open the possibility that the European
Union might impose the sanctions again.
But the extent to which human rights in Cuba have improved is a point of
dispute.
Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg said Monday that, before his
country would support ending the sanctions, it would have to see
evidence that Raúl Castro is doing more to release dissidents and
support the rights of its citizens.
''If we don't achieve any progress in human rights issues, we'll block
it,'' Schwarzenberg told reporters in Luxembourg for EU foreign
ministers talks.
And Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said Cuba did not even seem
interested in forging closer ties, which would include talks on rights
and reforms.
''We have not seen much change in Cuba, as much as we would like to
see,'' Bildt said. ``We made an offer last year to the Cubans to start a
dialogue and then the Cubans slammed the door in our face. . . . They
were not interested in dialogue if they had to discuss uncomfortable
things like democracy and human rights. They had very little interest in
that.''
Franco Frattini, Italy's foreign minister, also backed a tough line on Cuba.
The EU imposed the sanctions in 2003 after Cuba's government jailed 75
dissidents. Sixteen of those arrested have been released on medical
parole and another four were freed last month into forced exile in
Spain. But 55 are still serving long prison sentences.
''Frankly speaking, we cannot accept the idea that we lift sanctions and
they don't liberate the prisoners,'' Frattini said.
Meanwhile, Dimitrij Rupel, Slovenia's foreign minister, whose country
holds the EU presidency, acknowledged the division -- and tried to
bridge the gap.
''Some of my colleagues who are worried about the situation in Cuba are
quite right,'' Rupel said. ``But on the other hand we should be open for
changes, we should be optimistic.''
When the EU suspended the sanctions in 2005, it restored diplomatic
relations and ended a ban on talks with Cuban officials.
Although they are suspended, the sanctions remain subject to
reinstatement following periodic reviews. In the meantime, the European
Union asked Cuba to release political prisoners and grant freedom of
expression and information to its citizens.
Cuba has insisted the sanctions be eliminated completely, and said the
unilateral action violated its sovereignty.
The EU foreign ministers discussed the issue only briefly Monday. But
the matter is scheduled to be discussed further at EU summit talks later
this week in Brussels as part of an annual review of ties with Cuba.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/americas/cuba/story/572203.html
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