CUBA’S decision to release all its political prisoners could see the end of the US embargo on the communist country, the Spanish foreign minister said today.
Miguel Angel Moratinos said the move was “good news” and could also lead to an improvement in relations with the European Union (EU).
Cuban parliament chief Ricardo Alarcon said that his “government’s wish is to free all the people” not accused of murder.
The Spanish foreign minister said before parliament that such releases would yield “political consequences” for relations with the EU and the US, in particular a possible “lifting of the embargo” that Washington has maintained against Cuba since 1962.
In a Spain-brokered deal struck between the Catholic Church and Havana, Cuba agreed to free 52 of 75 detainees who had been sentenced in 2003 to prison terms of up to 28 years.
Eleven freed prisoners have already emigrated to Spain with their families.
A twelfth prisoner arrived today and another eight were expected to arrive in Madrid later as part of Cuba’s biggest release of political prisoners in over a decade.
According to Cuban dissidents, 115 political prisoners remain in Cuba in addition to the 52 released.
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