MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

EU calls for the release of Cuban political prisoners.

Luxembourg, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Union called Tuesday on Cuba to release dozens of political prisoners.

Luxembourg's Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister, Nicolas Schmit asked visiting Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque to engage in a "constructive dialogue" with the EU and, at the same time, release all political prisoners.

According to a release from the EU presidency, both ministers who met in Strasbourg, France, exchanged viewpoints "on recent political and economic developments in Cuba".

"The EU continues to be willing to engage in constructive dialogue with Cuban authorities with the goal of achieving tangible results in the political, economic, cooperation and human rights fields", said Mr. Schmit and insisted with "the EU's call for the release of all political prisoners in the group of 75" jailed in March 2003, as well as the other "political prisoners still in custody".

The meeting was held during Mr. Perez Roque's visit to EU institutions following Cuba's decision to resume contacts with EU embassies in Havana and the EU's temporary suspension of diplomatic sanctions on the Cuban government.