|
|
|
|
News from the Caribbean as of
|
Czech Republic, in tit-for-tat move, expels Cuban diplomat
Thursday, April 20, 2006
PRAGUE, Czech Republic (AFP): A Cuban diplomat was ordered to leave the Czech Republic on Wednesday in a tit-for-tat move following the expulsion of a Czech diplomat from Havana over charges of spying, the foreign ministry said.
"The Czech foreign ministry has taken a reciprocal measure and not extended the visa of a Cuban diplomat," ministry spokesman Richard Krpac said.
The Cuban diplomat in question, embassy attache Manuel Angel Baltar Charnicharo, left Prague Wednesday morning, Krpac told AFP.
Charnicharo was the third-ranked member of staff at the Prague embassy, and only two Cuban diplomats now remain, he said.
Last week, Havana refused to extend the visa of Stanislav Kazecky, the first secretary responsible for political affairs in Havana, accusing him of spying for the United States.
Prague has vigourously denied the claims, and lodged a protest.
Kazecky's expulsion also angered the European Union, which had recently reviewed its Cuba policy and in January lifted sanctions against the nation in favour of dialogue.
On Sunday Czech Foreign Minister Cyril Svoboda said he would seek to change EU policy on Cuba, arguing that "the soft approach to Cuba has borne no fruit".
Back...
Most popular articles: viewed, printed and e-mailed
 Printable version
|
|
