European Union sets aside Cuban sanctions
Brussels, Belgium,_ Reuters reports that last week European Union states made a decision to scrap sanctions against Cuba in order to encourage democratic reforms on the island nation. This move came about despite U.S. calls for holding a hard line against Cuba until real breaks with the Castro led government take place. The 27 nation bloc felt this was a good time to move forward on a new dialogue with Cuba. As EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner put it, “Cuban sanctions will be lifted.” She added that it would be accompanied with the expectations listed regarding human rights and political prisoners. The decision included reviewing results of the new relations in one year. Reuters went on to point out that unlike the 1962 US embargo/blockade, the EU sanctions do not prevent trade and investment which is at once at odds with Washington’s hard line advocacy position against Cuba. Something like this brewing in the international community on the eve of a new US presidency can only suggest that perhaps “la nueva libertad” policy is coming a nearby island nation soon.
