by Prague Daily Monitor/ČTK / published 12 February 2007
The Cuba daily Granma is accusing the Czech Republic and other EU
countries of planning a "new conspiracy" against Cuba. Czech Foreign
Minister Karel Schwarzenberg rejects the allegations.
"The Czech Republic is naturally not preparing any coup against Cuba. We
consider the speculation an attempt to divide European countries before
the approval of the EU medium-term and long-term strategy towards Cuba,"
Schwarzenberg told CTK.
It is a clear effort to prevent the strategy from being approved, he said.
Support for human rights and political freedom in Cuba is part of the
Czech Republic's foreign policy, Schwarzenberg said.
This "latest trick," mainly initiated by the Czech Republic and assisted
to by "convert" countries such as Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Lithuania
and Slovenia, is aimed to achieve "a joint agenda" through which they
would "undermine the independence and sovereignty of the people of
Cuba," the paper writes.
Granma says the plan is being organised and carried out on Washington's
order and seeks to influence the EU's medium- and long-term strategy
toward Cuba.
Such plans would undoubtedly affect bilateral interests between Cuba and
European countries and also on these countries' citizens who want normal
relations with Cuba, the paper writes.
"Up to now the EU has been unable of formulating its own independent
policy towards Cuba, which would surface again if it [the EU] allows
U.S. satellites such as the Czech Republic to push through Washington's
plans within their regional grouping," Granma writes.
The EU in 2003 adopted a series of diplomatic measures against Cuba in
protest against the execution of three hijackers who attempted to reach
the US, and against the prison sentences of up to 28 years which Cuban
authorities imposed on more than 70 local dissidents.
Havana reacted by freezing contacts with diplomats from the European
countries concerned who stayed in Cuba. Relations were normalised only
in January 2005 after Brussels temporarily suspended its sanctions.
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