>X-Sender: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >subject: Cuba withdraws from EU/ACP association > [MORE THAN A WEEKLY] > [BIENVENIDOS A GRANMA INTERNACIONAL] May 3, 2000 > > LETTER FROM MINISTER OF FOREIGN RELATIONS TO THE > FOREIGN MINISTERS OF THE GROUP OF 71 COUNTRIES OF > AFRICA, THE CARIBBEAN AND PACIFIC (ACP) > > European Union lacks political independence with regard to Cuba > > * The island withdraws its application for entrance into the new >treaty of association between Europe and the ACP countries > > Havana, April 26, 2000 > Your Excellency: > > I am writing to tell you that Cuba has decided to withdraw its >request for entry into the new treaty of association between the >countries of the ACP and the EU. > > As you know, Cuba has been participating in the negotiations for > >this new accord in the capacity of observer for almost two years. >From the outset, we saw the potential entrance of Cuba into the Lome > >Convention as a route to strengthening our relations and integration > >with the 71 member countries of the African, Caribbean and Pacific >Group and we have always clearly stated that our entry into the new > >convention would not affect, even minimally, the preferences and >interests of the ACP countries. > > From the beginning, the group of ACP countries has firmly and >enthusiastically supported Cuba's application. During that time we >have received the solidarity and support of our sister countries in > >the Third World, demonstrating their wish that Cuba become a new >member of the ACP family. Irrefutable proof of this was the >unanimous support for our position as observer, the Declaration of >the Heads of State and Government of the ACP countries in Santo >Domingo and the Resolution of the Council of Ministers which took >place in Brussels last February 1st. > > Cuba and the ACP countries worked together actively with a view to > >the completing a text that takes into account the interests and >claims of our countries and finally, on March 10, we confirmed our >interest in subscribing to the new convention together with the >other 71 ACP countries. > > Since that time, we have seen arrogance, smugness and the tendency > >on the part of various European countries to impose conditions on >Cuba. Such spirits are evident in the unanimous way in which the >European Union countries supported the United States" conspiracy >against Cuba at the Human Rights Commission in Geneva. The United >States once again used the puppet government of the Czech Republic, > >seconded by the governments, no less puppets themselves, of Poland, > >Romania and Latvia. These countries were formerly part of the >socialist bloc, but today are either members or aspirants to >membership in NATO, an aggressive and interventionist bloc that, >with its "new strategic concept," threatens the sovereignty of all >Third World countries. > > According to the rules of the European Union, any one of the 15 >member countries can veto Cuba's application. Some have already >shown themselves to be particularly hostile to our country joining >the new ACP-EU Convention, due to their growing dislike of Cuba for > >its vital struggle in defense of Third World people's interests. To > >persist with the request for entry would only serve to allow >ourselves to become victims of the unacceptable demands of the >European Union. > > The European Union recently asked its triumvirate to visit Cuba, in > >order to restart the dialogue that has been halted in 1996 due to a > >unilateral decision on their part. During the preparations for this > >visit, we were able to verify that the European Union would >effectively try to attach conditions on the incorporation of Cuba >within the convention of association between the ACP and the >EU. These conditions concerned the implementation of political, >economic and social changes within Cuba, which our country rejects in >a sovereign manner, since they constitute outright meddling in our >internal affairs and an unacceptable attempt to pressure Cuba, >something it has resisted for more than 40 years as a result of the > >ferocious blockade imposed by the most powerful nation in history. > > From the outset, Cuba has expressed in a plain and transparent >manner that it would not accept selective and discriminatory >conditions imposed by any nation of the European Union as a >requirement for our entry into the new convention. We have always >explained that our position is exclusively limited to the duties and > >rights that are established by the new text created by all of the >future signatories. Consequently, the European position remains >unacceptable to Cuba because of its interventionist and >discriminatory nature. It is proof that the European Union is still > >unable to articulate an independent political policy towards Cuba, >as a result of pressure exerted by the United States. An example of > >the double standard and weakness of European politics is the >unprincipled and unethical �understanding� that has been reached >with the United States over the extraterritorial nature of the >Helms-Burton Act. > > Taking into account all of these elements and in view of our >conviction that the visit of the EU triumvirate would be a pointless > >exercise, aimed only at giving them a pretext to brandish their >reasons for their opposition to Cuba's entry into the new ACP-EU >Convention, we have decided to cancel this proposed visit to our >country. > > It is for these reasons, Your Excellency, that we have decided to > >relinquish our application for incorporation within the new ACP-EU >convention of association. We see ourselves as having been blocked >in our desire to sign the accord as we wished, so that we could >respond to your interests and solidarity. > >Despite our decision and on behalf of our government, I reiterate to > >you that the ACP countries will always have Cuba's firm support for > >the achievement of the objectives for which we have jointly striven > >so hard. The recently concluded South Summit demonstrates that this > >is possible. In the framework of the UN, the World Trade >Organization, the United Nations Commission for Trade and >Development (UNCTAD) and other forums, we will always raise our >voice alongside our brothers and sisters of the Third World. > > I reiterate to you, dear colleague, our thanks for your brave >stance and the solidarity that your country has shown in supporting >Cuba's entry into the new convention. I assure you that we feel proud >to have been able to participate with you in this process which has > >made our indestructible mutual friendship even stronger. > > I take this opportunity to reiterate to you my highest and >most distinguished considerations. > > Felipe Perez Roque > > ABOUT GRANMA INTERNATIONAL ONLINE >Spanish | French | Portuguese | German | Italian | Javier Sotomayor | >Magazines � Copyright. 1996-1999. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. GRANMA >INTERNATIONAL/ ONLINE EDITION " JC > > __________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi ___________________________________ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe/unsubscribe messages mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] ___________________________________
