Rome, 04/08/2003 (Agence Europe) - On Friday, the Italian Presidency protested on behalf of the EU against the treatment of sick dissidents imprisoned in Cuba. A press release issued by the Italian foreign ministry notes that Italy and the European Union are extremely concerned at the state of health of several dissidents currently imprisoned on the island, particularly the economists Oscar Espinosa Chepe and Martha Beatriz Roque. Cuba's ambassador to Rome, Hugo Ramos Milanes, was summoned to the Italian foreign affairs ministry. Martha Beatriz Roque's family reported that she was hospitalised last week (she suffers from hypertension), while Oscar Espinosa Chepe's wife explained that he has cirrhosis of the liver.