Vol. 485 No. 1
47 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when an embassy in Mexico will be opened; if he will ensure that, when this occurs, this embassy will also be accredited to Cuba; the representations, if any, he has made to the United States to have the Cuban blockade lifted in view of the serious hardship it is causing to the people of Cuba who are denied medicines as a result. [22363/97]
As the Deputy will be aware, my predecessor indicated in reply to a question in this House on 30 September that the establishment of a resident embassy in Mexico was under consideration in the Department of Foreign Affairs. That remains the position. I cannot say when a decision on this matter will be taken by the Government. The Deputy will also be aware that the formal agreement of the host country is required before a resident embassy may be opened.
Because of the small size of our foreign service, we are not in a position at present to establish diplomatic relations with Cuba. In the event that we were to open a resident embassy in Mexico, this position could be reviewed.
On 5 November, Ireland, with all our European Union partners, voted in the United Nations General Assembly in favour of a resolution which called for an end to the economic commercial and financial embargo imposed against Cuba. The General Assembly adopted the resolution with 143 votes in favour, three against and 17 abstentions. The US Government is well aware of our concern about the embargo. On 2 December 1996, Ireland joined the other EU member states to adopt a common position on Cuba. The EU favours a peaceful transition to democracy and a sustainable recovery and improvement in living standards of the Cuban people and does not try to bring about change by coercive measures with the effect of increasing hardship. Having said that, I wish to make clear that the EU, including Ireland, attaches importance to the Cuban Government's responsibility to ensure full respect for human rights and political freedoms within Cuba.
