MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

EU intent on a broad dialogue with Cuba

The European Union remains intent on seeking a “broad” dialogue with Havana and with specific sectors from Cuban society, said British ambassador in Cuba according to an interview published Wednesday.

"We're seeking as broad and diverse a dialogue as possible with Cuba (and) with the largest number of sectors of Cuban society" said envoy John Dew in an interview published in the latest issue of the Catholic magazine Palabra Nueva.

"Cuba is not a priority on the current agenda of the European Union. It has not been a priority on our agendas since the October 1962 missile crisis ... (although) it has not been forgotten" said Mr. Dew who speaks for the EU since Britain currently holds the EU presidency.

The 25-member bloc "has a positive focus on Cuba" added Ambassador Dew recalling that the common European position vis-à-vis the Castro regime places special emphasis on "the importance of constructive dialogue".

"We have a long-term perception on Cuba. We strongly support the independence of Cuba and we respect the right of the Cuban people to decide their own future" highlighted Mr. Dew who has been ambassador in Havana since October 2004.

The British envoy said that he was "optimistic" about the future of relations between Cuba and the EU, adding that he was convinced that "there exists a good opportunity to develop a new dialogue with the Cuban government and ... society".

Relations between Havana and the EU are going through a delicate period following the crisis sparked in 2003 by the political sanctions imposed on the island to protest the repression of Cuban dissidents and the executions of three would-be ferry hijackers.

In January, Havana announced the normalization of relations with Europe, and last June EU agreed to continue on hold political sanctions against Cuba, but in recent weeks the European bloc has condemned new arrests of dissidents on the island.