Cuba’s Ricardo Cabrisas Meets with European Commissioner for Development

During the meeting, held at the building of the Council of Ministers, Cabrisas wished the visitor’s presence in Havana “to be an opportunity for the improvement of relations between the European Union and Cuba.”

After recalling that he visited the island some 10 years ago, De Gucht affirmed that at the heart of the European Union “some of us are working out how to improve relations with Cuba.”

This is not the position of all members, but some of us are taking steps and looking for a way to concrete that improvement, he affirmed.

Accompanying the top European official to the meeting with Cabrisas were Maud F.S. Arnould and John Edgard Clancy, members of his delegation for this official visit.

The Belgian official arrived in Havana on Saturday, following an invitation by Cuban
Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez. The inauguration of the stand of the European Union at the 27th International Fair in Havana (FIHAV 2009) and visits to places of historical and scientific interest are some of the activities included on De Gucht’s agenda.

The European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid recently replaced his fellow countryman Louis Michel in his post. Michel visited Cuba on March 7-9, 2008.