Spain advocates softer Cuba policy to improve human rights

Feb 18, 2010, 15:30 GMT

Madrid - Spain on Thursday defended dialogue as the best way to improve human rights in Cuba, saying that establishing 'trust' made it possible to increase cooperation in that area.

The Spanish European Union presidency intends to persuade the 27-nation bloc to follow Madrid's example in softening its policy towards the Caribbean island.

Madrid and Havana were discussing 'all subjects, including those related to human rights,' Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos said while Spanish and Cuban officials were meeting in Madrid.

The meeting was the fourth of its kind since Spain upgraded its relations with Cuba in 2007.

The agenda of the meeting included the existence of some 200 political prisoners in Cuba, the state of prisons, and plans for Havana to ratify international human rights agreements.

Spain wants the EU to modify its 1996 common position on Cuba which links dialogue to freedoms and human rights on the island.

Madrid says that policy has yielded few results.