13/05/2009 (Agence Europe) - After resuming cooperation on 23 October of last year (see EUROPE 9862 and 9769), the EU and Cuba took a further step towards returning to normal relations at the ministerial troika meeting in Brussels on 11 May. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parilla told press, however, that the continuing criticism by the EU of the human rights situation in Cuba, criticism he said was “obsolete”, remained an “obstacle” to full the normalisation that Cuba wants. On behalf of the Council Presidency, his Czech counterpart Jan Kohout said there were differences in viewpoint on this issue. Kohout did say, however, that there was “agreement on climate change and reforming the UN”. European Development Commissioner Louis Michel called for deeper political dialogue with Cuba and he urged the Cuban authorities to seize the opportunities brought by the restoration of this dialogue the resumption of cooperation and “also the change of administration in Washington”. (A.N./transl.rt)