MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

World leaders hail Fidel's exit as chance for political change

EU ready to consider thawing ties with Cuba in Post-Castro era

Western leaders are hailing news of Cuban President Fidel Castro's plans to retire as an opportunity for political change in the island and to reestablish long frozen links.

"We reiterate our willingness to engage with Cuba in a constructive dialogue", said a spokesperson for the European Union Aid Commission Louis Michel who is scheduled to visit Havana next March 6/7. Relations between the EU and Cuba broke down when in 2003 Brussels froze diplomatic contacts following the arrest of 75 dissidents, many of which had been invited to receptions in European embassies. A spokesman for British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Tuesday that Cuba now has "a chance for a peaceful transition to democracy". But he said that change is a matter for the Cuban people. UK has always supported a pacific transition, compliance with human rights and the unconditional release of all political prisoners. Spain's secretary of state for Latin America, Trinidad Jimenez, said Mr. Castro's brother, Raul, now can implement proposed reforms with greater capacity, toughness and confidence. Raul Castro has been acting head of state since 2006, when Mr. Castro temporarily handed him power to undergo surgery. It is yet unclear whether Raul will succeed Mr. Castro. Amnesty International called on Cuba's new leaders to protect human rights. It also called for the release of all prisoners of conscience and new measures to uphold freedoms and judicial independence. The rights group urged the international community to end policies that hurt Cubans' human rights, such as the U.S. economic embargo. U.S. President George Bush said he hopes Mr. Castro's retirement will lead to a peaceful political transition in Cuba. "United States will help Cubans with the blessings of freedom", he said. But John Negroponte number 2 in the State Department said the US will continue with the embargo on Cuba started in 1962. "I can't imagine that happening in the near future", said Negroponte talking with the press in Washington. The leader of the Russian Communist Party in Moscow praised Mr. Castro as a fantastic political leader who raised the flag of freedom. Expatriate Cubans in Miami's Little Havana community in the U.S. state of Florida showed mixed reactions to the Castro announcement this morning. Some motorists honked their horns, but there were no boisterous celebrations. Some customers at coffee shops in Little Havana hailed the news as an important step forward, while others expressed doubt that Cuba's political climate would change. In July 2006, the streets of Little Havana erupted into celebrations when Mr. Castro announced he was handing over power temporarily to Raul to undergo intestinal surgery. Little Havana has the largest population of Cubans outside the island. The Organization of American States Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza said he's hopeful the new political moment in Cuba will begin on the foundations of a "democratic and peaceful dialogue". "Any change must be born out of the democratic and peaceful dialogue of the Cubans and in no way should it be influenced from outside", said Insulza from Mexico. "We're hopeful this happens and that Cuba can in a near future return to the OAS family", added Insulza.