CubaMinrex. Sitio del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Cuba

Cuba and the European Union hold political dialogue.

CUBA, Jun 10, 2010.- The Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cuba, Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, in response to an invitation conveyed by the European side, attended a political dialogue with the European Troika at the ministerial level, as a follow up on the dialogue started on October 2008.

The dialogue was presided over by H.E. Mr. Miguel Angel Moratinos, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Spain, and the EU president during the current semester, as well as by other representatives of the European Commission and the General Secretariat of the EU Council.

During the exchange, the EU presidency and the European Commission expressed their interest in strengthening cooperation with Cuba and establishing a contractual framework between the European Union and our country as the basis to further develop relations between both parties.

The Cuban Foreign Minister reiterated Cuba’s willingness to hold a dialogue with the European Union, both with the current and future presidencies of the Council, on the basis of reciprocity, with an unconditional and non - discriminatory character, which also includes full respect for the sovereign equality of States, the legal framework and institutional order of the Parties and full adherence to the principle of non/interference in the internal affairs of States.  Likewise, he conveyed Cuba’s willingness to negotiate a bilateral framework of relations with the European Union that will include political, commercial and cooperation links.

Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla expressed Cuba’s readiness to maintain a respectful relation, which will necessarily require that the EU recognizes and treats Cuba on an equal footing, and reiterated that the interfering and unilateral European Union’s Common Position towards our country is the main obstacle to the full normalization of relations.

The meeting addressed several aspects of interest of the international agenda and there was also an exchange about the current situation facing the Haitian people as well as the challenges imposed by the present context, characterized by the global economic crisis and the climate change effects. (Cubaminrex)