Brussels, Nov 10 (EFE).- Following up on a recent thaw between their countries' leaders, Spain's chief EU diplomat said Monday he hoped to see Cuba join the "Lomé group" of developing nations that maintain standing cooperation pacts with the European Union.
Referring to Cuba, the Spanish Ambassador to the EU, Ramon de Miguel, noted that "there is an important country in the Caribbean area that hopefully will see its way clear to join the family of democratic nations in the not too distant future".
Cuba is the sole Latin American country that has not signed any sort of cooperation with the European Union, and De Miguel admitted that the Havana government has neither asked to join the Lomé group nor was likely to do so in the immediate future.
"They (Cuban leaders) know perfectly well that to join, a respect for democratic values, repsect for human rights and criteria of good government are absolutely crucial" the Spanish diplomat said.
Even so, he added, "not only Spain, because of its special regard for Cuba, but the other countries in the region would just as much like to see Cuba benefitting from the special concessions that are available to other Caribbean countries."
Despite the countries "democratic deficiencies", De Miguel said that Spain "has no wish to see Cuba remain isolated in the Caribbean, where other countries are already enjoying a range of opportunities they are entitled to under the (Lomé) convention." EFE