The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, told reporters the decision of his government to respond positively to the proposal made by the European Union (EU) on February 10 this year, through the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton, to start a dialogue with the Cuban government.
“Cuba has welcomed this proposal and will act constructively on the basis of the principles of unconditional respect and non-interference in internal affairs,” the Cuban minister noted.
Rodríguez Parrilla said that the Foreign Ministry had just sent a message to the EU ambassador in Cuba with the aim of initiating exchanges for a dialogue between the European Union and the Cuban government.
In October 2008, the EU and Cuba agreed to resume political dialogue and cooperation on a reciprocal basis, with unconditional and non-discriminatory basis, with full respect for the sovereign equality of States, the legal framework and institutional systems of the parties and in adherence to the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of States. Since then there have been five high-level meetings of political dialogue and fourteen European states have signed “reciprocal and respectful” agreements with Cuba.
Rodriguez also said that it will surely be a long process, but it is undoubtedly an important step in the normalization of political and economic relations with the European bloc.
