Cuba Strongly Rejects ‘Colonialist’ Clause in EU Resolution

After the European Parliament approved the first-ever cooperation deal between the EU and Cuba, the Cuban government has slammed a clause it included on human rights, calling it “colonialist”.

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In a statement, the Cuban Parliament said it strongly rejected the condition.

The deal was endorsed on Wednesday when EU lawmakers formally approved the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement signed in December 2016.

It seeks to promote bilateral trade, dialogue and provide for joint action on the world scene.

But the EU added a non-legislative resolution clause warning that the deal would be suspended if Cuba violates its human rights provisions.

“Some Euro deputies, with an extensive anti-Cuban record, who are opposed to the advancement of relations between Cuba and the European Union,” says the statement, “promoted the adoption of that Resolution, which is unnecessary, inopportune and has a remarkable colonialist content, through which they intend to lecture on democracy and human rights.”

The Cuban government stressed that this stands in contrast to positive developments being made between Cuba and the European Commission.

“Curiously enough, the Resolution is silent on the tightening of the blockade and the travel ban that prevents US citizens from traveling to Cuba,” the statement continues. “Instead, it seems to be anchored in the rhetoric used by President Donald Trump to announce measures aimed at pleasing the aged anti-Cuban ultra-right and terrorist minority that accompanied him when he made such announcements in Miami.”

It also said that Europe has its own neglected human rights issues to deal with, “The European Parliament should rather take care of … the increase of xenophobia and segregationist practices against minorities in the territory of the Union; as well as the lack of solidarity and a sense of historical responsibility when handling the waves of refugees who come from Africa and the Middle East, which have continued to take a toll on human lives”.

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“We don't recognize the European Parliament as being entitled in any way to address issues that are of the exclusive competence of the Cuban people, which continue to build its socialist, democratic, sovereign and independent future,” it concluded.

The Director for Europe and Canada at the Cuban Foreign Ministry, Elio Rodríguez Perdomo, had remarked that the deal represents a “positive step” for the nation.

But on Thursday, Rodriguez Perdomo said the human rights clause was both "unnecessary and interfering".