[Marxism] Joint Communique between Cuban government and EU Comm. For Development

["Walter Lippmann" <walterlx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

(As anyone can see, this is a roadmap for normalization of 
relations with any country whose relations with Cuba could 
be described as less than normal. Yes, it can be done.)
=============================================================

GRANMA 
March 14, 2008

JOINT COMMUNIQUÉ

1. Louis Michel, Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian
Assistance visited Havana from 7 to 9 March 2008 following the
invitation by Cuban Minister of Foreign Affairs Felipe Pérez Roque.
During the visit Commissioner Michel held official conversations with
the Minister of Foreign Affairs Felipe Pérez Roque. He was also
received by Carlos Lage, Vice President of the Council of State of
the Republic of Cuba; Ricardo Alarcón, President of the National
Assembly of People's Power; Marta Lomas, Minister for Foreign
Investment and Economic Cooperation; Fernando González, Minister par
interim of Science, Technology and the Environment; and Division
General Ramón Pardo Guerra, Chief of the National General Staff for
Civil Defense, among other Cuban authorities.

2. The two parties discussed a wide-range of issues, including the
political, human rights, trade and economic, scientific and cultural
spheres. A particular focus was placed on the process of dialogue
between the Government of Cuba and the European Union and the
possibilities of identifying areas of common interest.

3. In the course of these meetings, the parties agreed that relations
between Cuba and the European Union should be based on the principles
enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, notably those of
sovereign equality, respect for sovereignty and non-interference in a
nation's internal affairs and abstention from the threat or use of
force in international relations. They recalled paragraph 13 of the
Declaration of the IV EU-LAC Summit that says: "We firmly reject all
coercive measures of unilateral character with extraterritorial
effect that are contrary to international law and the commonly
accepted rules of free trade. We agree that this type of practice
poses a serious threat to multilateralism. In this context, recalling
UNGA resolution (62/3), we reaffirm our well-known positions on the
application of the extraterritorial provisions of the Helms Burton
Act".

4. The parties confirmed their support for multilaterlism and
expressed their conviction that international differences should be
resolved through dialogue and negotiation. They restated their
commitment to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and stressed
the need to prioritize measures that would ensure these were
achieved.

5. They expressed satisfaction with the first exploratory,
fact-finding contact between the troika of the EU and Cuba at
ministerial level, which took place in New York on 24 September 2007.

6. They also highlighted participation by Cuba, at the invitation of
Commissioner Michel, in the sessions on development held in Lisbon in
November 2007. They likewise stressed the usefulness of the two
recent technical missions of the Directorate General for Development
of the European Commission.

7. The parties agreed that future relations between the EU and Cuba
should be based on reciprocity, be non-discriminatory and should
address the outstanding problems that were impeding the development
of such relations.

8. As regards the process of dialogue between the EU and Cuba, both
parties reiterated their wish to see it move forward and considered
constructive dialogue to be the best means to contribute to the
normalization of relations. The two parties discussed extensively the
measures on Cuba adopted by the EU in 2003. Cuba considers them as
the main obstacle to the establishment of a political dialogue with
the EU and that they should be definitively eliminated. The European
Commission acknowledged this position.

9. Both parties agreed that there are a number of areas where policy
dialogue could be mutually beneficial when conditions so allow,
notably in the field of environment (biological corridor), trade
(access to EU markets), food security, science and technology,
cultural exchanges, disaster prevention and risk preparedness. It is
intended that work will continue towards an exploration of these
issues, building on the outcome of the missions of Commissioner's
Service.

10. The parties exchanged views on the political situation of the EU
and Cuba and regarding key issues on the current international
agenda, such as climate change, terrorism, international peace and
security, human rights and United Nations reform.

11. The parties reaffirmed their readiness to continue working to
create the conditions for normalizing relations between the EU and
Cuba.

Havana, 8 March, 2008.


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