• Submitted by: manso
• International
• 12 / 01 / 2010

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15:51, December 01, 2010. The governments of France and Cuba have resumed formal cooperation, according to an official statement signed Tuesday by the two countries.

"Both sides reaffirm cooperation is intended to benefit ordinary people, economic development, and cultural, scientific and technical areas identified as priorities," said the statement signed by France's Ambassador to Cuba Jean Mendelson and Cuba's Deputy Foreign Minister Dagoberto Rodriguez.

"These (areas) include agriculture, health, environment, scientific research, teaching French, and the spheres of culture and art," the statement added.

Relations between the two countries were suspended in mid-2003, after the European Union (EU) imposed diplomatic sanctions on Cuba. This was in response to Cuba's arrest of 75 people suspected of being U.S. spies, who were sentenced to 6 to 28 years in prison.

Cuba immediately announced a suspension of all official relations with the EU.

"The signing of this agreement marks a step forward in relations between France and Cuba and expressed the desire to strengthen the historic ties between both countries and to promote systematic exchanges between our peoples and governments," Mendelson said during a signing ceremony at the Foreign Ministry.

In January 2005, the Cuban government announced that it had normalized official contacts with all EU countries.

At Spain's request, the EU established the so-called "Common Position," making changes in the political and social system of the island nation a condition for improving relations with Cuba. Cuba has rejected this policy for a long time, considering it an interference in its internal affairs.

Madrid began talks with Havana a year ago after sanctions had proved fruitless. Relations with EU countries also improved after Cuba released most of the prisoners.

Source: Xinhua