Vol. 476 No. 5
17 Mr. T. Kitt asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he indicated to President Clinton the necessity for a peaceful resolution of the differences between the US and Cuba during the EU-US Summit in December 1996; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4889/97]
Ireland's position and that of the EU as a whole regarding Cuba is well known. It is set out clearly in the common position adopted by the Council on 2 December 1996 under the Irish Presidency. The US and EU wish to see a process of peaceful transition to pluralist democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms as well as a sustainable recovery and improvement in the living standards of the Cuban people. It is the position of the European Union that it can best help the achievement of that objective by means of a result-oriented constructive dialogue. The EU common position provides for a regime of systematic scrutiny of Cuban performance in the areas of human rights and democratisation. This position was made clear to President Clinton and the US authorities at various meetings, including the EU-US Summit on December 16.
