Cuba calls off EU visit over rights

Havana - Cuba's decision to call off a visit by European Union officials after some EU states censured Havana's human rights …

Havana - Cuba's decision to call off a visit by European Union officials after some EU states censured Havana's human rights record raises questions over its attempt to join a major new trade-aid pact, EU diplomats said yesterday.

A Portuguese-led EU troika of ministers was due to have visited Cuba on April 27th and 28th for talks on human rights and Cuba's request to join a revamped accord between the EU and the 71-nation African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group.

Havana-based EU diplomats said Portugal's ambassador to Havana, Mr Antonio Carvalho de Faria, was told by Cuba's Deputy Foreign Ministry, Mr Angel Dalmau, that Havana did not want the EU delegation's visit to go ahead at this time.