EU: Better Cuba ties only possible if Havana improves rights

CNN December 7, 1998 EU: Better Cuba ties only possible if Havana improves rights

                  BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) -- In a statement directed as much at Havana as
                  Washington, the European Union said Monday that relations with Cuba
                  won't get better unless that country improves its human rights record.

The 15 foreign ministers from the EU bloc said they want to help Cuba
become a pluralist democracy but that Havana showed no interest in that.

                  The statement was within a twice-annual report that the EU agreed to carry
                  out as part of a challenge to a U.S. law that punishes companies for doing
                  business in Cuba.

                  The Europeans argued that the Helms-Burton act violated international trade
                  law, denied being soft on Cuba and pledged to step up monitoring of human
                  rights there.

The EU ministers reaffirmed their wish "to become a partner with Cuba with
a view to progressively and irreversibly opening up the Cuban economy."

                  However, they added, "It will only be possible to cooperate fully with Cuba
                  if the situation improves as far as human rights and fundamental freedoms are
                  concerned."

                  EU relations with Cuba remain tenuous. The best the EU has been able to
                  do for Cuba this year is grant the country observer status in negotiations
                  between the EU and 71 developing countries.