Defying U.S., EU Scraps Cuba Sanctions
June 20th, 2008Via: Reuters:
European Union states agreed on Thursday to scrap sanctions against Cuba in a move aimed at encouraging democratic reforms on the Communist island, officials said.
The lifting, agreed despite U.S. calls for the world to remain tough on Havana, will pave the way for a new dialogue with Cuba but come with calls that it address human rights concerns and free political prisoners.
Relations would be reviewed in one year, they said.
“Cuban sanctions will be lifted,” EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner told reporters after foreign ministers of the 27-nation bloc clinched agreement at a summit dinner in Brussels.
“Of course there is clear language on human rights, on the detention of prisoners and there will have to be a review also,” she said of the EU policy arrangements accompanying the move.
Geez, think the normalizing of EU relations with Cuba might play a role in doing something about the Aushwitz called Camp Gitmo that is run by the US Stazi?
Sorry, I know that is harsh, but the Cuban’s seem like a fine set of folk. A nation that survived forced starvation by the likes of every U.S. rulership since Kennedy.
Heh, not that U.S. will ever acknowledge that Cuba more than not thrived without U.S. “assistance.”
Cuba proved that a country can survive through very hard times without a handout from the U.S.
When taxpayer’s finally revolt en masse and stop sending money to the U.S. government through taxes (and I think that time will occur in my lifetime -even sooner than I might think) and the government is on its knees in need of life support, maybe then Cuba will be appreciated. I sure would love to see that country someday!