Atlantic Community:Global Must Read Article "Spain Worried About Cuba's Intentions"

Editorial, El Pais (in Spanish) | July 19, 2010

With nine newly released political prisoners arriving from Havana today, Spain is now “obliged to try to get the EU to change its policy towards Cuba following this gesture.” ++ The question remains whether the prisoners are being freed or exiled. ++ “It is risky to respond with a political initiative to a humanitarian gesture whose ultimate scope and intentions are unknown.” ++ If Spain really intends to reach out to Cuba, it should instead obtain a change in the EU’s policy in order to secure the freeing of all political prisoners, and not the other way around.

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Sat, Jul 31st 2010, 04:50

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I think this article makes a good point in that it is too soon to tell how the agreement reached between Spain, Cuba and the Catholic Church will be spun by Cuban officials. I agree that ideally, Spain's objectives in Cuba would have the greatest chance of being met if the release of the prisoners were tied to a strong, multilateral EU policy at the outset, and not a mere 'humanitarian gesture.' However, given the current divisiveness in the European Union on the Cuba issue (with Germany, the UK and much of Eastern Europe strongly opposed to strengthening ties with Cuba, and France, Belgium and Portugal advocating closer ties), it appears that Spain's unilateral action, albeit with its questionable prospects for success, might be the best chance Spain has to influence perspectives on the issue.

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