EU plans to relax its stance toward Cuba
26.10.2010
The European Union plans to relax its firm position toward Cuba and has instructed its High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Catherine Ashton, to explore ways to improve trade and diplomatic relations with the Castro regime, a European diplomatic source told Agence France-Presse.
The firm position will remain in place for now, however.
Ashton was asked by the E.U. foreign ministers meeting Monday in Luxembourg to consider a revision of the European Union's 1996 policy toward the Cuban government in the light of the recent release of political prisoners, the source said.
This policy, called the "common position," prevents the normalization of relations with the island in the absence of improvements in human-rights observance and democratic progress. A dialogue has existed since 2008 but remains very limited.
The idea is to "explore ways to try to move forward" on the issue, said the European diplomat.
Ashton intends to report on her efforts in December, possibly at a meeting of foreign ministers, the source told AFP.
Source
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/cuban_colada/#ixzz13V54Df4u
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