Brussels, 30/03/2005 (Agence Europe) - From 24 to 27 March, as part of the reopening of political dialogue between the EU and Cuba - begun on 31 January after the lifting of restrictive measures taken against Cuba in June 2003 - European Development Commissioner Louis Michel made the first visit to Cuba by a high-level EU representative since June 2003. Returning from his journey, Mr Michel said he was “more optimistic than before” on the chances for improved political dialogue between the EU and Havana, but without having obtained a firm commitment from the Cuban authorities on the release of political prisoners. Mr Michel nonetheless hailed the Cuban authorities' commitment to “favour political dialogue with the EU based on mutual respect and fully frank exchanges of views on all issues”. In an atmosphere he described as “constructive”, Mr Michel spoke to the Cuban President, Fidel Castro, and his Minister of Foreign Affairs, Felipe Perez Roque. Messrs. Michel and Roque in particular “explored the avenues for political dialogue on human rights, judicial cooperation, elections and the situation in the prisons”. Mr Michel repeated the EU's call on the Cuban authorities to free all political prisoners, but the Cuban side made no declaration on this front. Mr Michel also repeated to the Cuban authorities the offer to rejoin the Cotonou agreement linking the EU to the ACP group. He pointed out, inter alia, that this agreement, in which Cuba has always refused to join, would offer “a full basis for political dialogue, economic cooperation and development”. The Commissioner also met researchers and representatives of civil society, including several political dissidents.