Jim Mitchell
Question:53 Mr. J. Mitchell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps which are being taken to improve relations with Cuba. [12839/00]
Written Answers. - Ireland-Cuban Relations.
Following the Government's decision of 28 September 1999 to establish diplomatic relations with Cuba, Ireland's first ambassador to that country, who is resident in Mexico City, presented his credentials in Havana on 31 March this year. It is expected that the Cuban authorities will shortly request the accreditation to this country of their ambassador in London.
The way is now open for a development of the friendly relations which already exist between Ireland and Cuba, and a strengthening of our ties across the board, including political, economic, social and cultural exchanges.
Together with our partners, we subscribe to the EU common position on Cuba, which was originally adopted under the Irish Presidency of the EU in December 1996. The aim of the common position is to foster a process of change, not to precipitate a collapse of authority which could bring about conflict in Cuba or mass emigration from there. In the spirit of the common position, Ireland and our EU partners oppose the US embargo against Cuba and we have consistently conveyed this view to the US authorities, as well as regularly voting against the embargo at the UN General Assembly, together with all our EU partners. However, the common position also makes clear that full co-operation with Cuba is unavoidably inhibited by the persistent and enduring absence of fundamental human and political rights in that country. More than three years after the adoption of the common position, and notwithstanding some improvements in terms of religious tolerance following the Pope's visit to the island in January 1998, the situation remains substantially the same.
At the recent session of the UN Commission on Human Rights, the EU once again called on Cuba to co-operate with all human rights mechanisms of the UN, and those EU member states currently sitting on the Commission voted for the resolution criticising Cuba's human rights performance. Regrettably, Cuba chose to react to the most recent resolution by withdrawing an invitation to a European Union Troika at Deputy Foreign Minister level, which was due to visit Havana at the end of April for discussions with the Cuban authorities in the context of the EU's commitment to the maintenance of dialogue with Cuba. Havana also withdrew its application to join the ACP Convention.
It is, however, the Government's wish and intention to continue a dialogue with Cuba on these and other issues, in a spirit of friendship and goodwill. At the same time, and building on our newly established diplomatic links, we will work to develop and strengthen the overall political, economic and cultural relations between our two countries.