CUBA: Cuba expects to free more jailed dissidents and hopes the European Union will end a diplomatic freeze with the communist-ruled island, a senior Cuban official said.
In a gesture diplomats saw as an attempt to thaw ties with Europe, President Fidel Castro's government has freed several of the 75 pro-democracy activists, independent journalists and opposition figures arrested in March 2003.
Independent journalist Jorgé Olivera Castillo yesterday became the latest released. Six, including well-known poet and journalist Raul Rivero, left prison last week, bringing to 14 the total freed on medical grounds in recent months.
In the first official Cuban comment on the releases, National Assembly President Ricardo Alarcon told Reuters there was no political motive. He said they followed a policy of freeing inmates early for reasons of health, age and good behaviour.
Asked in an interview in Caracas if the releases would continue, he replied: "I'm sure they will.
"It would be very unusual if the rest [ of the 75] completed all of their sentences," he said. He added that "perhaps the whole group" could eventually benefit from early release.
In one of the worst crackdowns in decades in Cuba, the 75 opponents of the government were sentenced in April 2003 to prison terms of up to 28 years for conspiring with the United States to undermine Mr Castro's government, a charge they deny.
To protest, governments of the 25-nation EU last year made it a policy to invite Cuban dissidents to National Day receptions in Havana and halted high-level visits by European officials. Mr Castro's government furiously limited contacts with European diplomats.
Mr Alarcon, a member of the politburo of the ruling Cuban Communist Party, welcomed efforts by Spain's new Socialist government to revise the EU policy and re-open contacts.
"We think that's a correct first step," he said. "I hope this more rational and balanced attitude will increasingly prevail within the European Union."
EU policy-makers are to meet in Brussels on December 14th to decide whether to change their diplomatic treatment of Havana.
"These so-called sanctions they adopted really haven't been effective ... we can go on like this as long as they want," Mr Alarcon said.
He said Cuba might be forced again to arrest and jail dissidents whom Havana says are financed and directed by Washington.
"While there is this policy of promoting, organising and financing this so-called opposition in Cuba ... I fear we could see a repeat of situations in which individuals violate Cuban laws in the paid service of a foreign government," he said.
Mr Alarcon also condemned as "absurd" what he said were President Bush's efforts to tighten restrictions on agricultural exports to Cuba.
These sales have risen to about $400 million per year since the US Congress passed legislation in 2000 opening a crack in the long-standing trade embargo to allow cash sales of food.
US food suppliers fear Washington hopes to limit exports to Cuba by further tightening the strict no-credit terms. - (Reuters)