In Europe
More fun and games in Europe.
As you know, the Socialist Government of Spanish prime minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero is shamefully continuing to push for the European Union to lift its (largely symbolic) sanctions against the Castro regime.
The meeting to discuss the lifting of the sanctions, which were imposed by the EU in 2003 following the regime’s savage crackdown on dissidents, was supposed to be held on Monday, as you can read here.
However, the Germans asked for the debate to be postponed, so the issue will not be discussed by the foreign ministers of the 27 member nations until later this week.
As well as the Spaniards, those supporting a lifting of the sanctions are believed to include the British and the French .. who should know better.
Those opposing the lifting of the sanctions and calling for greater political freedoms in Cuba, including the release of all political prisoners, are the nations that used to be part of the Soviet bloc, led by our old friends the Czech.
The Italian Foreign Minister, Franco Frattini, also has some doubts, insisting that the Castro brothers need to improve their human rights record before the EU consider changes to its policies.
"What is very important is to reaffirm the full respect of human rights in Cuba," Mr Frattini said. "We cannot accept the idea that we'll lift the sanctions and they don't liberate prisoners."
As you know, the Socialist Government of Spanish prime minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero is shamefully continuing to push for the European Union to lift its (largely symbolic) sanctions against the Castro regime.
The meeting to discuss the lifting of the sanctions, which were imposed by the EU in 2003 following the regime’s savage crackdown on dissidents, was supposed to be held on Monday, as you can read here.
However, the Germans asked for the debate to be postponed, so the issue will not be discussed by the foreign ministers of the 27 member nations until later this week.
As well as the Spaniards, those supporting a lifting of the sanctions are believed to include the British and the French .. who should know better.
Those opposing the lifting of the sanctions and calling for greater political freedoms in Cuba, including the release of all political prisoners, are the nations that used to be part of the Soviet bloc, led by our old friends the Czech.
The Italian Foreign Minister, Franco Frattini, also has some doubts, insisting that the Castro brothers need to improve their human rights record before the EU consider changes to its policies.
"What is very important is to reaffirm the full respect of human rights in Cuba," Mr Frattini said. "We cannot accept the idea that we'll lift the sanctions and they don't liberate prisoners."
posted by Luis M Garcia at 3:05 pm
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