MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Rammell in two days visit to Cuba

Foreign Office Minister Bill Rammell is currently on a two days visit to Cuba, the first official from a European nation to go to the island since Brussels imposed diplomatic sanctions on Fidel Castro' regime almost two years ago.

The European decision followed the jailing of 75 dissidents and summary execution of three hijackers, but after the release of 14 of those dissidents earlier this year and pressure from the Spanish Socialist government both sides have began a diplomatic approach process with the objective of improving relations.

The Foreign Office reports that Mr. Rammell held talks with Cuban Vice minister for Europe Eumelio Caballero; Minister for Justice Roberto Diaz Sotolongo, key figures of the Ministry of the Interior and from the National Anti Drugs Unit, and Humberto Rodriguez head of the Cuban Soports Institute.

"I am pleased to be visiting Cuba following the suspension of the EU 2003 June measures. We have an important agenda with Cuba: the fight against drugs, money laundering and child abuse and our EU and G8 priorities", remarked Mr. Rammell before leaving for Havana.

Further on he emphasized that "importantly I will have the opportunity to raise our human rights concerns directly with the Cuban government. I will also be able to meet members of the peaceful opposition".

Actually it was EU criticism of Cuba's human rights record two years ago that led Fidel Castro to describe Europe's leaders as "lackeys" of the United States and broke off almost all contact with EU ambassadors in Havana.

Mr. Rammell was scheduled to deliver a speech at a Foreign Office funded money laundering course, visit the Coast Guard to discuss anti drugs work and visit the UK NGO Save the Children Fund.

Other activities included meeting the Archbishop of Havana and other prominent civil society members.