WBAY-TV Green Bay-Fox Cities-Northeast Wisconsin News: EU leader: Cuba must make human rights gestures

EU leader: Cuba must make human rights gestures

Posted: Updated:

HAVANA (AP) - The European Union's development commissioner wants Cuba to show signs it's serious about protecting fundamental human rights.

Karel De Gucht met with Raul Castro while wrapping up a three-day visit to Cuba and says he held "open, frank and constructive" talks with several top Cuban officials.

He said Wednesday night that the "position of the EU is not regime change," but that "on Cuba's part, dialogue implies gestures be made on universal human rights."

The island's communist government wants the EU to scrap its "common position" calling for a transition to democracy and better human rights guarantees in Cuba.

Relations between the island and the EU are improving after five years of tension over Cuba's human rights record.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Powered by WorldNow
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2009 WorldNow and WBAY. All Rights Reserved.
For more information on this site, please read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.