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Cuban President Raul
Castro Meets with European Commissioner Karel De Gucht
 Havana,
Nov 5, (RHC).-
Cuban President Raul Castro met on Wednesday with the
European Commissioner of Cooperation and Development
Assistance Karel De Gucht in Havana.
The distinguished European official has concluded his five-day
visit to the island.
Raul Castro talked with the European Commissioner about the
common position approved in 1996 by the European Union and
possibilities to improve trade and commercial relations
between Cuba and the EU.
De Gucht spoke about the cooperation projects of the
European Commission, which totaled nearly 60 million dollars
in 2009 and will reach a similar amount in 2010.
The European Commissioner of Cooperation and Development
Assistance arrived in Havana last Friday and returned to
Brussels Wednesday evening.
Cuban Vice-president Holds Talks with
European Commissioner
Cuban Vice-president of the Council of Ministers, Ricardo
Cabrisas Ruiz, held talks with European Commissioner for
Development and Humanitarian Aid Karel De Gucht on Tuesday,
with a focus on the state of bilateral cooperation, which
both countries resumed in 2008.
“His visit is an excellent opportunity to continue expanding
relations between the European Union and Cuba,” said
Cabrisas at the meeting which took place at the Council of
Ministers headquarters.
Cabrisas also noted the significance of the talks De Gutch
held with Foreign Minister Bruno Rogríguez Parilla and Cuban
Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment Rodrigo Malmierca.
“Environmental and food security programs were some of the
most important issues we discussed,” the European
commissioner noted.
De Gucht added that the EU is looking forward to improving
bilateral relations with Cuba. Accompanying him were
European Commission Official Maud F.S. Arnould, and Charge
D’affaires a.i of the European Commission in Cuba Javier
Nino Perez.
On the Cuban side, Deputy Foreign Minister Dagoberto
Rodriguez, Cuban Ambassador to the EU Elio Rodríguez, and
official of the Foreign Trade and Investment Ministry José
Rosado also attended the meeting.
The development of Cuba-EU relations corroborate that
cooperation with European institutions is possible if based
on mutual respect and non-interference in domestic affairs.
Cuba has communicated the European Union its willingness to
continue to normalize bilateral relations, which cannot be
done without putting an end to the unacceptable and obsolete
1996 European Common Position on Cuba. |
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