Spain criticizes Cuba's expulsion of EU deputy

Spain criticizes Cuba's expulsion of EU deputy
www.chinaview.cn 2010-01-06 00:32:55

MADRID, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- The Spanish government on Tuesday
criticized Cuba's decision to expel Socialist EU Representative Luis
Yanez from Havana's airport and warned the action would not help
relations between the two countries.

Yanez is president for EU delegations dealing with Latin American
trade group Mercosur and is a member of the parliamentary assembly
covering European-Latin American relations. He also published an article
in 2007 entitled "What will happen after Castro?".

He flew to Havana with his wife, who is a member of the Spanish
parliament, on a tourist visa. But he was refused entry to the island,
with no explanation, in the early hours of Monday morning and returned
to Spain on the first available flight.

"We hope this type of incident does not happen again, because it
does not help the development of relations between the two countries,"
said an official communique issued by the Spanish Foreign Ministry.

The statement was issued after Secretary of State for Latin America
Juan Pablo de Laiglesia asked Cuban ambassador to Spain Alejandro
Gonzalez on Tuesday morning to explain the incident.

Gonzalez said Cuba had acted "in consequence of the application of
Cuban law," and he said Yanez's visit was "not innocent."

Yanez said his private visit did not have a "hidden agenda," but
admitted he had intended to meet with his Cuban "social-democratic" friends.

Yanez was known for his contacts with Cuban dissidents, sources said.

Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos also criticized
Cuba's actions in Madrid. "They have made a mistake," he said.

Spain took over the EU presidency on Jan. 1. Madrid recently
expressed willingness to improve ties between the EU and Cuba.

Spain criticizes Cuba's expulsion of EU deputy_English_Xinhua (5 January
2010)
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2010-01/06/content_12761069.htm