2008 Woodie Awards
European Union lifts sanctions against Cuba
Holly Butcher
Issue date: 2/11/05 Section: World
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The EU also promised to heighten relations with opponents of President Fidel Castro and "develop more intense relations with the peaceful political opposition and broader layers of civil society in Cuba," reported the BBC.
Previously, the sanctions were placed on Cuba in March 2003, when the 25-member EU revoked visits to Cuba in protest to the government's disregard for human rights.
Other EU decisions included: dropping participation in cultural events, a re-evaluation of the EU role in Cuba, and invitations to Cuban dissidents on national-day celebrations. Before the sanctions, the dissidents attended cocktail parties with the EU in order to keep the message of the dissidents out in the open.
"The problem is not getting invited to receptions. I can drink rum at any corner bar with an ambassador," said Cuban dissident journalist Manuel Vazquez Portal to TVNZ news. "The issue is recognition for an opposition movement that has been repressed for so long."
According to the BBC, reasoning behind the sanctions was due to the imprisonment of 75 dissidents and the execution of three hijackers attempting emigration to the U.S. in April 2003.
"The EU is deeply concerned about the continuing flagrant violation of human rights and of fundamental freedoms of members of the Cuban opposition and of independent journalists," read a statement by the EU.
As reported in the Havana Journal, Cuba responded to the 2003 sanctions by claiming the EU was "serving U.S. interests through recent criticisms of the Fidel Castro government."
The EU hopes the current sanction lift it will lead to more respect for human rights in a country where people are imprisoned for expressing political opposition.
"With the European Union deciding to lift the sanctions and no longer comply with the U.S., it shows the power the U.S. had over directing foreign policy is not as strong now," said Assistant Professor of History Anore Horton. "Punishing Cubans because the U.S. doesn't like the politics of their government is just really a cruel policy and has led to a lot of problems for Cubans in every day life."
