I propose to take Questions Nos. 50 and 63 together.
The Government, by decision of 28 September 1999, approved the establishment of diplomatic relations with Cuba. It is the intention that the ambassador to Mexico will also be accredited to Cuba; the Cuban Ambassador to London will be accredited to Dublin. The Cuban Foreign Minister, Felipe Perez Roque, was in Dublin on Wednesday, 27 October to mark the establishment of relations between our two countries. These formal ties will enable us to deepen the friendly relations which already exist between us. It will also provide an important impetus for the further development of economic, social and cultural links.
While here, Minister Perez Roque met the Oireachtas Foreign Affairs Committee for an exchange of views. He also met the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation, Deputy McDaid. He also discussed economic questions in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
The position of the Government on the US embargo against Cuba remains that set out in my reply of 29 September to Question No. 118 – we wish to see an end to the US embargo imposed against Cuba. We are working to that end in concert with our European Union partners, all of whom share the same position, and we have consistently supported resolutions in the UN General Assembly calling for an end to the embargo, most recently at the General Assembly last year.
The US Administration and its diplomatic representatives have been made fully aware of our position.
There has been some progress. On 4 August the US Senate – partly prompted by pressure from agribusiness interests – voted by 70 to 28 in favour of exempting food and medicine from the embargo, but the proposal did not prosper in the House of Representatives. Earlier this year restrictions were eased on the delivery of food and medicine to non-governmental organisations, though this was not welcomed by the Cuban authorities as it was seen as circumventing state control.