La Havana, 24/08/2001 (Agence Europe) - The president of the Council of Ministers of the European Union and Belgian Foreign Minister Louis Michel spoke on Thursday, shortly before his meeting with President Fidel Castro, of the need to restore "unconditional" political dialogue between Cuba and the EU Fifteen.
"Dialogue may and must take place in full trust", said Mr Michel, who invited both sides to make a gesture leading to constructive dialogue. During a meeting with journalists, President Castro made no comment about the likelihood of dialogue being resumed, but simply noted that "Europe gives rise to considerable expectation on the part of Cuba and of the world as a whole". Belgian diplomatic sources state, however, that the beginnings of a solution may possibly be found before Mr Michel's departure on Friday evening.