MADRID, Spain (AFP):  Spain's Socialist Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said Wednesday that he will discuss differences with Washington over Cuba when he meets with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice later this week.

Spain's Socialist Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero. AFP PHOTO

Rice criticized Madrid's policy of constructive engagement with Cuba, a former Spanish colony, on Tuesday, telling reporters that she was "not sure that we see eye to eye" on the issue.

Washington has imposed a 45-year embargo on the communist Caribbean island which prohibits most Americans from visiting Cuba and chokes off nearly all trade between the two countries.

"Nations and governments do not have to have similar positions on all foreign policy issues," Zapatero told reporters following talks in Madrid with his Dutch counterpart Jan Peter Balkenende when asked about Rice's comments.

"It is understandable and reasonable because there are different historical ties, because there are very different approaches over what can and should be the future," he added.

"What is positive is that we are going to talk and when we do the positions are going to be much more understandable and much closer," Zapatero said.

Last month Havana and Madrid signed an agreement creating a mechanism for political consultations, including the sensitive human rights issue, during a visit to Cuba by Spanish Foreign Minister Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos.

Rice is scheduled to hold talks with Zapatero and Moratinos on Friday in Madrid.

Her visit will be the first by a US cabinet member to Spain since Zapatero was elected in March 2004, ousting the previous conservative government which had been a close ally of US President George W. Bush.

Shortly after he was elected Zapatero withdrew Spain's troops from the US-led coalition in Iraq as promised during his campaign, sparking anger from Washington.

Spain's ties with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, a vocal critic of the United States, have also contributed to a cooling of relations between Madrid and Washington since Zapatero took office.