topics
tools
Expatica countries
Index Last Var.(%)
BEL 20 2286.26 -0.09
DAX 6754.2 -0.16
IBEX 30 8846.9 0.13
CAC 40 3411.54 0.18
FTSE 100 5890.26 -0.03
AEX 325.97 0.28
DJIA 12882.63 0.29
Nasdaq 2906.14 0.14
FTSE MIB 16491.71 0.62
TSX Composite 12521.41 -0.31
ASX 4344.9 -0.45
Hang seng 20699.19 -0.05
Straits Times 2957.78 0.60
ISEQ 20 504.97 -0.68
You are here: Home News Community News Spanish foreign minister defends Cuba policy

Community News

archive
Enlarge font Decrease font Text size


29/10/2009Spanish foreign minister defends Cuba policy

The decreasing number of political prisoners in Cuba is a sign the policy was delivering “results”, says Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos.

Madrid – Spain's foreign minister defended Wednesday Madrid's policy of seeking rapprochement with Cuba despite criticism from dissidents in the Communist-ruled island, saying it was bearing fruit.

Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos told parliament that the number of political prisoners in Cuba had dropped in recent years "from 300 to 200" and this was a sign the policy was delivering "results".

"The Vatican, the European Union and the Ibero-American continent defend the Spanish position, and (US) President (Barack) Obama himself has made gestures in the direction of the Spanish position," he added.

He has been criticised by Spain's conservative opposition as well as by the Wall Street Journal, which called him "Havana's man in Europe" in an editorial, for not meeting with dissidents during his 18-19 October visit to Cuba.

In a letter released Tuesday, 37 Cuban dissidents, including 31 political prisoners, criticised Madrid's policy towards Cuba's "totalitarianism".

They expressed hope it would not "spread" throughout the EU when Spain holds the rotating presidency of the bloc in the first half of 2010.

They were especially critical of Moratinos' stated desire to scrap the EU's "common position of 1996", which links further cooperation with Cuba with improvements in human rights, during Spain's turn at the helm of the EU.

Moratinos has said he would like to replace it with a bilateral agreement between the EU and Cuba.

"The government has an enormous respect for the opposition and dissidents," he said, adding Spain's embassy in Havana was "in permanent contact" with the opposition in Cuba.

This allows Spain to "transmit all humanitarian demands and requests for the liberation of dissents" to the regime of Raul Castro, he added.

Spain's policy on Cuba shifted in 2005 after Socialist Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero came to power the previous year. His conservative predecessor, Jose Maria Aznar, had adopted a policy of isolating the Communist island.

In 2007 Spain and Cuba, a former Spanish colony, renewed ties damaged by Havana's jailing of 75 dissidents in 2003.

AFP / Expatica


0 reactions to this article

Be the first person to add a comment

General rating: Not rated yet

Rate article:    Add my rating


0 reactions to this article

Be the first person to add a comment
Discussion Forums

Housing in Spain

Sitges, Barcelona - 5 Bedroom Villa € 1,150,000 For Sale

Jobs in Spain

“Silicon Valley Comes to Barcelona”, 24th Feb 2012

Business and Personal Finance in Spain

“Silicon Valley Comes to Barcelona”, 24th Feb 2012

Student forum Spain

“Silicon Valley Comes to Barcelona”, 24th Feb 2012

Community Noticeboard Spain

“Silicon Valley Comes to Barcelona”, 24th Feb 2012

participate in the forums

Inside Expatica
Editor's Guide: Getting Started in Spain

Editor's Guide: Getting Started in Spain

Expatica's Getting Started section will provide practical information on how you can open a bank account, exchange your driving licence, improve your Spanish, and more.

Groups and Clubs in Madrid

Groups and Clubs in Madrid

Here's a guide to an extensive list of groups and clubs in Madrid for expats, from sports groups to social and family gatherings.

Groups and Clubs around Spain

Groups and Clubs around Spain

A brief introduction to our Tax section for Spain, from help with inheritance tax to accounting advice.

Groups and Clubs in Barcelona

Groups and Clubs in Barcelona

Here's a short introduction to our Banking section for those living in Spain, from what to ask the experts to opening a Spanish bank account.