Published on Saturday, June 9, 2007
BRUSSELS, Belgium (AFP): The European Union could soon formally scrap
its sanctions against Cuba, currently suspended, European sources said
Friday.
The proposal to drop the sanctions -- adopted in 2003 but suspended two
years later -- was put forward by Spain and others at a recent meeting
of EU diplomats dealing with Latin America, the sources said.
If adopted this month it would signify the normalisation of EU-Cuban
relations two months after Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel
Moratinos visited Havana, becoming the first EU foreign minister to do
so since 2003.
The sanctions, which the 27 EU member states could otherwise decide to
suspend for another two years, include restricting bilateral government
visits. The European Union imposed political and diplomatic sanctions on
Cuba in 2003 after the regime arrested and sentenced 75 dissidents to
lengthy prison terms and the summary executions of three young Cuban who
had sought to escape to the United States by boat.
The sanctions notably include restrictions on bilateral government visits.
The EU must decide in June what to do about the sanctions which were
suspended in January 2005 at Spain's initiative, following the release
of several dissidents.
The German EU presidency is expected to present the proposition to scrap
the sanctions at the next EU meeting on Latin America on Wednesday, the
sources said.
Then on June 18 EU foreign ministers could re-evaluate their relations
with Havana.
The EU 27 have long been divided on the issue with Spain, Italy and
Germany are in the forefront of countries seeking dialogue.
Poland and the Czech Republic, former communist states close to
Washington, have favoured pressuring Havana for democratic change.
However, according to the European sources, the Czech Republic seems
increasingly isolated in its opposition to normalisation.
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