http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/11/05/europe/EU-POL-Serbia-Cuba.php
Associated Press
November 5, 2007
Serbia's parliament passes resolution urging end to
Cuba sanctions
BELGRADE, Serbia - Serbia's parliament overwhelmingly
approved a resolution Monday calling for an end to the
nearly 50-year-old U.S. embargo on Cuba.
The resolution was widely seen as a sign of mounting
anti-U.S. sentiment, stemming from Washington's
support for independence of Serbia's separatist Kosovo
province.
It was also timed to coincide with Agriculture
Minister Slobodan Milosavljevic's visit to Cuba. In a
statement issued in Belgrade, he said that Havana
fully supports Serbia's "territorial integrity" and
its bid to keep Kosovo within its boundaries.
With 205 votes in favor of the declaration, the
250-member assembly expressed "full solidarity" with
the Cuban people, as well as support for the Caribbean
island's efforts to end the blockade.
"The Serbian National Assembly is against policies of
force, sanctions or isolation against any country,
which always have suffering of its people as a
consequence," the resolution said.
The resolution was proposed by the,,,Serbian Radical
Party, which used to rule together with late President
Slobodan Milosevic.
Only legislators from the pro-Western Serbian Liberal
Party voted against the declaration. The party had
demanded that the resolution also call for free and
fair elections in the communist country.
Serb authorities also announced plans to boost trade
with Cuba, as well as establishment soon of a direct
air link from Belgrade to Havana.
The first U.S. sanctions against the island were
imposed in 1960, a year after the Cuban revolution
thrust Fidel Castro into power.
Serbian News Network - SNN
[email protected]
http://www.antic.org/
