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Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2005

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  The E.U. froze diplomatic ties with Fidel Castro's regime after it cracked down on dissidents in March 2003, imprisoning 75 of them. The bloc also resolved to support Cuban dissidents by inviting them to functions at the E.U. diplomatic missions, a move that in turn prompted Castro to freeze ties with the embassies.

Spain's Socialist government last fall spearheaded calls to improve relations with Havana, and Castro subsequently reopened contact with the embassies and freed 14 prisoners. The E.U. last week announced it was lifting the diplomatic sanctions.

Spain had wanted to take additional steps, however, arguing that tensions with Havana could be further eased if E.U. embassies would stop inviting dissidents to receptions.

Firmly Opposed

The Spanish proposal was firmly opposed by the Czech Republic, a former East Bloc country which jettisoned communism in 1989 and whose governments since then have included former dissidents.

Czech officials threatened to use a veto in the 25-member Council of Foreign Ministers, where policy decisions must be agreed upon unanimously. The proposal was then thrown out.

"Considering our totalitarian past, it was unacceptable for us to accept limitations on contact with people who are fighting for democracy," Czech Foreign Minister Cyril Svoboda was quoted as telling reporters.

Even stronger words came from another Czech, former dissident-turned-president Vaclav Havel, who in an op-ed published in several European newspapers accused the E.U. of "dancing to Fidel Castro's tune" and dishonoring "the noble ideals of freedom, equality and human rights that the Union espouses."

"It is suicidal for the E.U. to draw on Europe's worst political traditions, the common denominator of which is the idea that evil must be appeased and that the best way to achieve peace is through indifference to the freedom of others," Havel said.

Eight of the ten new members of the E.U. are former communist states

Havel urged them "not to forget their experience with totalitarian regimes" and to reflect that experience in the way they acted within E.U. structures.

The E.U. will this summer review the decision to resume normal diplomatic relations with Cuba.

Human Rights Watch said last week the E.U. should link normalized relations with Cuba to meaningful progress on human rights.

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