EU's top diplomat tells Cubans that relations with Europe are stronger than ever. Federica Mogherini started a two-day visit to the island on Wednesday. Mogherini also told Cuba that the EU rejects unilateral sanctions against the island.
ADVERTISEMENTThe European Union's top diplomat arrived in Cuba on Wednesday for a two day visit.
Federica Mogherini, the EU's foreign policy chief, said the EU rejects North American sanctions against Cuban citizens and cannot accept unilateral measures that impede or restrict European economic relations with the island. She told her audience that ties between the EU and Cuba are stronger than ever.
"Regardless of the changes of policies in Washington," said Mogherini, "the message I am bringing here is that the friendship and relationship with the European Union is here to stay, it's solid, it's stable and it's reliable. It has always existed, and today we are for the first time ever into a legal framework that allows us to expand areas of cooperation."
The EU dropped all sanctions against Cuba after relations with the US started to improve from 2015 onwards.
Mogherini went on to talk about the EU-Cuba agreement on human rights, a sensitive issue in Cuba:
"This dialogue allows us to discuss the human rights situation in both Europe and in Cuba, and while there are differences in our respective points of view, the openness and willingness to discuss with mutual respect, is always there."
Mogherini met Cuba's Foreign Investment and Cooperation Minister, Rodrigo Malmierca, who told her that her personal contribution had been very important to the island.
The EU dropped all sanctions against Cuba after relations with the US started to improve from 2015 onwards.