Prague- The European Union will evaluate its previous lifting of
sanctions on Cuba during the Czech EU presidency, Czech Deputy Foreign
Minister Helena Bambasova after meeting Spanish Secretary of State for
the EU Diego Lopez Garrido.
The EU lifted its sanctions on Cuba in June in order to launch an open
dialogue with the country.
The Czech Republic, known for its resolute criticism of the Cuban
regime, at first opposed the step. Finally, the Czechs consented, but
demanded that the situation in Cuba be assessed every year.
Spain, on the contrary, is one of the countries that strongly pushed for
the lifting of the sanctions after Fidel Castro left as the country's
leader in February. The EU sanctions were agreed on in 2003 and they
were temporarily suspended in 2005.
Bambasova said while Prague and Madrid have different attitudes towards
Cuba in the long run, their have the same goal - that democracy be
established and human rights respected in Cuba.
Bambasova said the evaluation would very carefully monitor the situation
to see whether the reopened dialogue helps this joint goal or not.
She said the evaluation would be made in June 2009, at the end of the
Czech six-month presidency.
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