EU Split over Development Commissioner's Proposal to Normalize Relations
with Cuba
By Nina Maria Potts
Brussels, Belgium
17 April 2008
In June, European Union member states are expected to consider whether
to normalize relations with Cuba. This follows a call by the EU's
Commissioner of Development to permanently lift diplomatic sanctions. In
2003, a Cuban government crack down on dissidents prompted Brussels to
freeze relations with Havana. All high level visits were halted and
Cuba told the EU it did not need its aid. The EU tem****arily suspended
its actions 2005, but now Europeans will debate a permanent thaw.
Nina-Maria Potts re****ts for VOA.
Commissioner Louis Michel met with the new Castro government official
Commissioner Louis Michel met with the new Castro government official
The EU's top development official came away from a visit to Cuba last
month, saying diplomatic sanctions against Havana should be dropped.
Commissioner Louis Michel's meetings with the new Castro government
evoked objections from human rights organizations.
But spokesman John Clancy says the European Commission simply wants to
explore a new political dialogue and now is the time. "This is im****tant
to create the atmosphere for dialogue and that atmosphere for dialogue,
over time it's a work in progress," Clancy says. "[It] can also lead to
im****tant changes, in the society with whom we are dealing. It can help
open up Cuba to the rest of the world, and that's im****tant."
In a 2003 political crackdown, Cuba jailed 75 dissidents; 55 are still
in jail, and several European human rights organizations have stated
that the EU would send the wrong message by lifting sanctions now.
Commenting on the visit, a U.S. State Department spokesman said
Wa****ngton is not promoting engagement and wants the release of
political prisoners, along with free and fair elections in Cuba.
Within the EU, the Czech Republic leads a group of former communist
states that oppose engagement with Cuba. "It is as if the people who are
fighting the Cuban regime are their brothers in a political sense, the
people who are fighting for the same causes that the Czechs or Polish or
the Hungarians were fighting for 20 or 30 years ago," explained Piotr
Kaczynski with the Centre for European Policy Studies.
After taking over from his brother in February, Raul Castro has
instituted several reforms. They include ending a ban on the use of
cellular phones, allowing Cuban citizens to stay in hotels reserved for
foreigners, and announcing the launch of a 24 hour television channel
which will include foreign-produced content.
Cuba's former colonial ruler, Spain, and a handful of other EU countries
are pu****ng Brussels for engagement with Cuba, but the British
Conservative and member of the European Parliament Edward Mcmillan-Scott
says Cuba has done nothing to merit any change in relations. "I think
that the European Commission is quite wrong to pretend that it's
business as usual with Cuba; that somehow the departure of one Castro,
and his replacement by another, has made some sort of difference. It
hasn't. The regime is still as corrupt," Mcmillan-Scott said.
At a meeting in June, EU member states will review their common position
on Cuba. Analysts say a divided EU is unlikely to change the status quo.
http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-04-17-voa49.cfm
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