Foreign ministers from the European Union are poised to perform a diplomatic about-turn and restore high-level ties with Cuba, ending a two-year freeze in relations.
Despite expected last-minute opposition from the Czech Republic, which at the behest of the US remains concerned about the move, the decision will be taken at a meeting in Brussels on Monday January 31.
It risks annoying Washington, which has argued that the EU ban on ministerial contact should remain in place.
Opponents to restoring high-level ties have argued it bows to explicit demands from Cuba, which has frozen contact with most EU embassies in Havana since member states imposed a range of diplomatic sanctions in 2003.
Under a Spanish proposal being discussed on Monday, EU embassies would be advised not to invite dissidents to national day receptions, a practice that formed part of the sanctions. At the same time, direct ministerial contact between Cuba and EU member states would be restored.
EU governments have had virtually no dialogue at ministerial level with Havana since June 2003, when the Cuban government jailed 75 US-financed 'dissidents.'
But the strategy of trying to pressure Cuba into addressing alleged 'human rights' concerns has had little effect. In fact, Cuba responded by freezing out the EU's embassies.
Diplomats in Havana are in broad agreement that it would be better to revive high-level contacts across the board and downgrade invitations to opposition figures.
Bill Rammell, foreign office minister, told the Financial Times in London on Sunday: “It is important we engage constructively and critically with Cuba. We want international dialogue with the peaceful opposition as well as a normalised relationship with the Cuban government.”
30th January 2004