From Caribbean News Now

HAVANA, Cuba (ACN) — A round of talks on human rights between Cuba and the European Union (EU) was held in Havana on Sunday, June 6, when, despite profound differences, both parties agreed they had made advances.

According to the ministry of foreign affairs of Cuba (MINREX), the discussions were presided over by Stavros Lambrinidis, the European Union’s special representative for human rights, and Ambassador Pedro Núñez Mosquera, general director of multilateral affairs and international law of MINREX.

The dialogue was aimed at creating areas of debate, expanding knowledge on the respective realities and exploring possibilities of cooperation in the fields where there were points of coincidence.

The delegations tackled specific issues of human rights as defined previously by the parties, both in the fields of civic and political rights as well as economic, social and cultural ones.

The Cuban ministry release stated there were profound differences in positions and points of view in several issues, but the talks were held in a respectful manner and they maintained a willingness to address any issue with full respect to sovereignty, independence, non-interference on the internal affairs of the parties and the reciprocal character of the talks.

Cuba expressed its interest in this dialogue to contribute to an efficient, constructive and non discriminatory human rights process, and to move forward in the process of having better relations between the Caribbean nation and the European bloc.

For more on this story go to: http://www.caribbeannewsnow.com/topstory-Cuba-EU-human-rights-dialogue-moves-forward-despite-differences-30681.html

IMAGE: eeas.europa.eu Stavros Lambrinidis