Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Czech ForMin says it is important sanctions against Cuba valid

Czech ForMin says it is important sanctions against Cuba valid

Luxembourg- Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg said it is
important that the sanctions the EU imposed on Cuba in 2003 after the
regime intervened against Cuban dissidents remain in force.

The EU shortly afterwards suspended the sanctions, but it is important
that it has not lifted them, Schwarzenberg said.

He was reacting to the resolution that the EU foreign ministers approved
today.

Schwarzenberg, a sharp critic of the Cuban political regime, said he
does not perceive the adoption of the resolution a defeat.

The resolution condemns the current state of human rights in Cuba, but
at the same time moderates the stand on the Cuban political regime.

Representatives of the Cuban government were for the first time invited
by the whole EU to visit Brussels.

The resolution also gives the green light to more frequent visits by EU
politicians to Cuba.

The EU, however, said European politicians must take up the issue of
human rights observance in Cuba in their meetings with Cuban government
members.

They will also be obliged to meet at top level representatives of the
Cuban opposition.

According to diplomatic sources, the Czechs still miss the outlining of
a joint strategy that the EU should apply in case the Communist regime
collapses.

Schwarzenberg said the strategy will still have to be discussed.

http://www.ceskenoviny.cz/news/index_view.php?id=258112

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