EU Should Not Rush to Embrace Cuba

June 19, 2008 | The Miami Herald

Ever since Raúl Castro took the reins of power in Cuba, there has been a big stir about ''changes'' on the island. Mind you, Cubans are merely getting what the state had no right to deny them in the first place, such as owning computers and cellphones. But so far, Cuba has not changed the shameful way it treats political dissidents and human rights activists. Until it does, European leaders rushing to kiss and make up with the Castro brothers should put their budding romance on hold.

Diplomatic sanctions

Led by the Spanish government of Socialist Party Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, EU leaders meeting in Brussels are being pushed into lifting the diplomatic sanctions imposed on Cuba after the crackdown on political activity in March of 1972. Curiously, these sanctions are not even in effect, having been suspended -- prematurely, we believe -- in 2005 in an effort to induce the Castro government to treat its citizens better. Fat chance.

A report on human rights in Cuba that covers the first five months of 2008 shows that, whether it's Fidel or Raúl Castro at the helm, there is no political opening in Cuba to speak of and no reason to expect one anytime soon. Prepared by several European NGOs (nongovernment organizations), the report describes a continuing campaign of political repression and bullying that is typical of the Cuban police state.

This includes the harassment of prominent human rights figures; the arrest of scores of individuals, many on vague ''anti-government'' charges, with the ensuing secret trials and jail terms for some; and the usual detentions, interrogations and intimidation aimed at stifling dissent.

This isn't change. It is more of the same, with the only difference being that Raúl Castro's cosmetic reforms have given Cuba's allies a pretext for claiming that it is time to drop diplomatic sanctions in order to encourage further improvements. EU leaders should not be misled, and especially German Chancellor Angela Merkel, at whose behest the debate over Cuba was postponed for a few days in order for her government to make a more informed decision.

No rights, reforms

She and others should listen to leaders of the Czech Republic, who want political progress before Cuba is rewarded. Another thoughtful voice belongs to Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, who has noted that Cuba does not seem interested in forging closer ties with the Europeans because that would entail talks on rights and reforms.

The last time EU leaders asked for a dialogue with Cuba, the door was slammed in their faces. At a minimum, they should wait until there is genuine human rights progress, such as a liberation of political prisoners, before offering Cuba diplomatic carrots.