CubaMinrex. Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Cuba

Press release on the Ministerial Meeting between the European Union troika and Cuba that was held in Brussels on May 11, 2009.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cuba, His Excellency Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, attended the Second Ministerial Meeting with the European Union troika which was held in Brussels on May 11, 2009, thus following up on the political dialogue that began on October 16 in Paris, France.

Representing the European Union were His Excellency Jan Kohout, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Check Republic, who attended the meeting in his condition as President of the European Council; His Excellency Louis Michel, European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Assistance; His Excellency Mr. Joakim Stymne, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sweden, the country that will take up the presidency of the European Union on the second semester of 2009; and Mr. Karl Buck, on behalf of the General Secretariat of the Council.

This process was possible only after the European Union, on June 23, 2008, lifted, once and for all, all the sanctions it had unilaterally imposed against Cuba in 2003. The dialogue between the European Union and Cuba is taking place on the basis of reciprocity, non-discrimination, without any pre-condition, with full respect for the sovereign equality of States, the legal framework and the institutional order of the Parties, and full adherence to the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of States.

The Ministerial meeting made it possible to directly and respectfully address the current status of the cooperation between Cuba and the European Commission and the European Union member States; the UN reform; the human rights situation in the European Union and in Cuba and international cooperation in that field; the international economic and financial crisis as well as the climate change and the protection of the environment.

Cuba reiterated once again to its European counterpart its rejection against the common stand adopted in 1996, which it does not recognize as the adequate benchmark for its links with the European Union, given its unilateral and interfering character, which is, besides, a reflection of a biased vision about our country. Cuba called for the replacement of that common stand with a new institutional relations framework that reflects the interests of both parties.

Brussels, May 11, 2009.

 

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