France Expects More Progress in Cuba on Political Rights
HAVANA TIMES — French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said in Havana on Saturday that his country supports negotiations to revive relations between Cuba and the European Union (EU ), but also expects further progress in political rights on the island, reported dpa news.
“Cuba has made progress” on social rights such as education and health, as well as the reforms of the government of Raul Castro, but there are things pending in other areas, Fabius said during the first visit in more than 30 years from a top French diplomat.
The foreign minister said the governments of Havana and Paris have different perceptions for example on citizen rights.
“We believe that political rights are equally indispensable,” Fabius said during a meeting with diplomats and the French community in Havana. In this area there remains “substantial progress to be made,” he said.
Fabius arrived in Cuba from Mexico and met on the island with his counterpart Bruno Rodriguez, as well as with President Raul Castro and other senior representatives of the Cuban government.
During his short visit of less than 24 hours the French minister stressed that his government seeks to promote dialogue at a political level with Cuba, as well as “economic and trade” advances.
Fabius said he had a “long conversation” with Castro, during which he concluded that there are “no irreconcilable problems” between the two countries. Cuban state television showed footage of the meeting.
Speaking at the French diplomatic residence in Havana, the foreign minister also condemned the US economic embargo imposed on the island for over 50 years.
Fabius also justified his trip to the island, the first in three decades by a French foreign minister, which comes amid an incipient rapprochement between the EU and Cuba.
The island has changed in recent times, he said. “For example, Cuba has authorized travel,” he said referring to the Cuban immigration reform on January 2013, and also pointed to the brand new law that opens spaces for foreign investment on the island.
“Likewise there is an evolution of the position of Europe and France,” he said. “It’s time that this rapprochement takes place in a concrete way.”
Cuba is the only Latin American country with which the EU does not have a bilateral treaty. Relations between the two sides are framed since 1996 in the so-called European “common position”, which determines links to advances in the human rights situation on the island.
Several European countries froze relations and cooperation with Cuba after the wave of arrests of dissidents in the “Black Spring” of 2003. On a bilateral level, some European states have already partially resumed relations with the island in recent years.
In mid-February the EU offered Cuba to start negotiations to establish a new framework for “political dialogue” and cooperation which initially exclude the granting of trade privileges to the island. The dialogue is expected to begin in Havana in late April.
Several European officials have said they expect the thaw in ties with Cuba will boost the economic reforms of Raul Castro and contribute to greater openness on the island. Countries like France, Spain and Holland advocate that position.
Reluctance to a rapprochement without changes in the situation of human rights comes from EU countries such as Sweden, the Czech Republic and, to a lesser extent Germany.
Why is having a meaningless conversation better than not talking at all? Perhaps it’s worse, as it gives the illusion of doing something while maintaining the status quo.
Raul Castro has ruled out any political reforms to go along with his carefully limited economic reforms. The governments of Cuba & the EU can have all the dialogue they like, but so long as Raul rules there will be no political reforms.
Avi, lots of European tourists already travel to Cuba. The “common position” never stopped any of that.
This isn’t about what Cuba can offer Europe that it hasn’t already done This is about an attempt of Cuba to get more aid and trade benefits
Each time a round of talks has been started in the past they ended as soon as real improvements in political, economic and human rights areas were put on the table by the EU. I doubt that the regime is truly ready to change. A deal isn’t on the books unless Europe would cave in on human rights. That I don’t think will happen
The problem with giving average citizens a voice in their rule through open multi party elections is how messy it gets. Before you know it, leaders are being held accountable by impatient electorates. The China model opens up economic freedom with periodic leadership changes selected by the governing body.
Having dialogue is better than not doing anything
For some time now, the EU Common Position has been largely symbolic. Those firms interested in doing business with the Castros have done so without reference to the politics. This visit by the French Foreign Minister may give the Castros the ‘warm and fuzzies’ but it does not mean much.
The development of dialogues between EU and Cuba is highly encouraging. Cuba is a culturally rich country and it can make great stride toward tourism and other bilateral relationships provided such bilateral dialogue is continued in fruitful manner. Cuba have make progress in health science– EU and Cuba can gain with exchange of their respective knowledge. I know Cuba have in past collaborated with Switzerland by allowing their scientists to work and collaborate with researcher at Swiss in past. Such synergy can be encouraged by allowing those scientist by encouraging them both logistically and financially — developing and grooming them as a ambassador of peace process.