EU criticises Cuba's expulsion of lawmakers

Friday, May 20, 2005

BRUSSELS, Belgium (AFP): The European Union on Thursday criticised Cuba's decision to stop two EU lawmakers from entering the Caribbean island state to take part in a meeting of opposition figures.

Polish EU deputies Jacek Protasiewicz and Boguslav Sonik were turned back by Cuban authorities on Tuesday when they tried to enter the communist state to meet with dissidents on Friday.

"It's a pity that these kind of incidents take place with parliamentarians, that they see how they cannot enter the country," said Amadeu Altafaj, spokesman for European development and aid commissioner Louis Michel.

"These kind of incidents do certainly not go in the direction that the European Union has set ... which is based on political dialogue," Altafaj said.

In January, the EU suspended sanctions it had slapped on Havana in June 2003 following a crackdown on dissidents but Altafaj, while making no threat, underlined that the decision is due to be reviewed late next month.

The standoff between Brussels and Havana eased notably after the release of a number of the dissidents, in a move seen partly as a gesture to win over EU nations most opposed to lifting the sanctions.

In addition, Cuba announced in January it was restoring diplomatic ties with all EU states represented in Havana, including the four most opposed to lifting the sanctions: Poland, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, and Slovakia.

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