[NYTr] Cuba Pursues Mutually Respectful Relations with European Union

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

Agencia Cubana de Noticias (ACN)
http://ainch.ain.cu/mailman/listinfo/ingles


Cuba Interested in Mutually Respectful Relations with European Union

Havana, Nov 28 (acn) Cuba would like to develop relations with the 
European Union (EU) based on mutual respect and non interference, said 
Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Eumelio Caballero during the opening 
session of the 14th International Conference on European Studies that 
began Tuesday in Havana.

Unfortunately, said the Cuban diplomat, the EU is still vulnerable to 
US pressures and it is unable to conduct an independent policy towards 
the island.

Speaking to almost 50 deputies, academics and leaders of political 
parties from Europe and Latin America, Caballero said that Havana has 
taken note of a proposal from the Council of Ministers of Foreign 
Affairs from the European Union to hold an integral and open political 
dialogue with Cuba, although this initiative is affected by the 
interfering Common Position of 1996 and the sanctions adopted against 
the island by the EU in 2003.

The Cuban diplomat noted that it is not possible to hold a respectful 
dialogue between peers in these conditions and that the definite 
elimination of these sanctions is essential.

After denouncing the anti-Cuba services paid to the US government by 
the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland, Caballero stressed that Cuba 
will adopt all necessary measures so that no attempt to violate the 
legal order on the island remains unpunished.

Some of the topics discussed during the first day of the Conference on 
European Studies included the re-emergence of Russia as a world power 
in front of the western powers, particularly the United States; as well 
as other topics related to the process of unification of the German 
Left and nationalism in Europe.