Brussels, 14/07/2003 (Agence Europe) - According to the new EU directives on Cuba (see EUROPE of 7 June, p.7), France invited, on Monday, the Cuban dissidence to celebrate 14 July at its Embassy in Havana, for the first time ever. We recall that the break with the Cuban authorities from the moratorium on the death penalty and the condemnation of political opponents to heavy prison sentences had led the Fifteen, on 5 June this year, to decide to limit high level visits carried out in a bilateral context, to reduce the importance of Member State participation at cultural events, and to invite Cuban dissidence to ceremonies organised for national holidays and to proceed to reassessing their common position on Cuba. The Cuban dissidence still free confirmed the invitation of the French authorities. Fidel Castro, for his part, affirmed that Cuba would no longer invite any EU ambassador to official functions, adding that "if they (i.e. EU diplomats) limit their contacts to the dissidents, then they will be undesirable also".