By Andrew Cawthorne
HAVANA, July 1 (Reuters) - President Fidel Castro insisted on Wednesday that the European Union must respect Cuba's independence rather than making human rights policies and political reforms a condition of closer ties.
"It's not as if Cuba goes to Europe to tell them what they have to do," Castro told reporters at an economic forum.
He was referring to an EU statement earlier this week that Havana must make "substantial progress" on human rights, good governance and political freedom if it ever seeks full membership of a trade and cooperation pact between the EU and African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) nations.
"What we are not prepared to discuss is the sovereignty of our country, the independence of the country, and our right to govern and adopt the criteria for an economic, political and social system that we consider most appropriate," Castro added.
His comments underscored Cuban Foreign Minister Roberto Robaina's declaration on Tuesday in Brussels that it was "unjustified" and "unacceptable" to condition cooperation with Cuba on "supposed needs for improvements in the field of human rights or on so-called democratic changes."
Havana has, however, welcomed the EU granting of Cuba's request to observe EU-ACP talks, set to begin in September, on a new cooperation accord to succeed the Lome Convention.
Cuba's communist leadership, in power since Castro's 1959 revolution, has always maintained it will not accept any conditions for negotiations on its integration into international organizations.
In an informal chat with reporters, Castro avoided responding directly to a strong appeal by a Vatican envoy in Havana earlier this week to allow private and religious education in Cuba where the state controls all schooling.
"I listen to all opinions with great respect ... Some we share, others not," he said when asked about Cardinal Pio Laghi's outspoken remarks during a four-day visit to Cuba that ended on Tuesday. "We do not fall into the trap of debating or arguing over some delicate matters."
Laghi, the Roman Catholic Church's spokesman on education, was the most senior Vatican official in Cuba since Pope John Paul II's ground-breaking visit in January.
Castro was speaking at a break in a regional economic conference in Havana, where he had earlier given a lengthy speech reiterating his familiar views on the evils of globalization and neo-liberalism.
The 71-year-old Cuban leader, looking buoyant but sometimes rambling, took pot shots at various nations during his speech, which came in response to a question from a delegate on the effect of the Asian crisis in Cuba.
He lamented the "terrible catastrophe" capitalism and privatization had caused in Russia, laughed at Venezuela's presidential candidate and former Miss Universe Irene Saez and mocked the "arrogance" shown by the United States during President Bill Clinton's visit to China.
Asked how the Cuban economy was performing this year, Castro said it was more relevant to look at international tendencies but added that given the hardships facing the island even 1.5 percent economic growth would be impressive.
The official aim was for Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to rise between 2.5 and 3.5 percent, but analysts say the disastrous 1997-98 sugar crop has already shot a hole in that.
Economy Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez, also speaking at the conference, said 1998 was a "very tough year" for the Cuban economy, with the poor sugar harvest and falling prices of sugar and nickel, which are the island's two main exports.
The falling price of oil, which Cuba imports, had brought some alleviation, however, Rodriguez added.
19:56 07-01-98