EU Foreign Policy Chief to Visit Cuba

EU Foreign Policy Chief to Visit Cuba
VOA News
March 14, 2015 5:07 PM

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini will visit Cuba this month as
a next step in talks aimed at boosting trade relations between the
28-nation bloc and the communist state, her office said Saturday.

Mogherini will meet with her Cuban counterpart, Bruno Rodriguez. She
will be the highest-ranking EU diplomat to visit the island.

Mogherini's March 23-24 visit "comes at a crucial time" for negotiations
between the two sides, the statement from her office said. "Cuba is
facing a very interesting period and the European Union is keen to see
how we can take the relationship forward with strong momentum."

The EU has been in talks with Cuba for the past year to increase trade
and investment. Brussels lifted the sanctions on Cuba in 2008 after
half a century.

The United States also is in talks with Havana. A U.S. delegation,
headed by Assistant Secretary of State Roberta Jacobson, will meet with
Cuban officials Monday for a third round of talks.

The U.S. administration began historic talks with the Castro regime
earlier this year on re-establishing diplomatic relations and easing
economic and travel sanctions imposed decades ago.

The development is opposed by many Cuban-Americans and others who say it
legitimizes the communist government.

U.S. and EU officials say that discussions with Cuba will include
improving the human rights situation in the country, which has been
tightly controlled by Fidel Castro and his brother, Raul.

Jacobson said the two sides have discussed establishing civilian air
links between their nations, but that the date for human rights
discussions has not been set yet.

Source: EU Foreign Policy Chief to Visit Cuba -
http://www.voanews.com/content/european-union-foreign-policy-chief-visit-cuba/2680303.html