Government opponents ask European Union not to include Cuba in agreement

HAVANA, 12 (AP) - The island's leading opposition groups asked the European Union not to include Cuba in an agreement offering trade advantages  and help to developing nations until the Caribbean nation improves its civil  rights record.

The government opponents made their request Wednesday in a declaration  delivered to visiting EU Development Commissioner Poul Nielson, who traveled here this week to open a new EU mission in Havana.

There was no immediate response from Nielson or the Cuban government  to the dissidents' request.

Their letter refers to an earlier declaration made by the 15 members  of the European Union exhorting Havana to improve its human rights situation.

"In the opinion of those signing this declaration, it is evident that  the current Cuban government has not satisfied a minimum of the  proposals," said the document.

Those who signed it included veteran human rights activist Elizardo Sanchez; Vladimiro Roca, a former military pilot-turned-dissident and son of a  late revered Communist Party leader; and Marta Beatriz Roque, a  dissident economist who heads an umbrella group of opposition  organizations.

Nielson said at the EU mission inauguration in Havana this week that  he would back Cuba's application to join the union's agreement, which offers  trade advantages and economic help to a 78-nation grouping of African,  Caribbean and Pacific island nations.

EU officials have said it is unclear if the governments would approve  the deal. Britain, Sweden and others are expected to press Cuba on  human rights before approving its membership.

The dissidents said that joining the agreement would be "a great help"  to Cuba's struggling economy, but "this is not the moment due to a  lack of receptivity" by the island's government.

Top ^