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Italy has key role in Cuba-EU negotiations: Raul Castro

Xinhua, May 10, 2015 Adjust font size:

Italy has a central role in the building up of relations between the European Union (EU) and Cuba, Cuban leader Raul Castro said here on Sunday after meeting with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.

"Italy plays a very important role in the negotiations that we are carrying out with the EU and that we hope to conclude within the end of this year," Castro told a joint press conference after the talks with Renzi in Rome.

Cuba is negotiating a political and cooperation agreement with the EU, and Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni was the first European minister to officially visit Cuba in March since the Caribbean island nation resumed diplomatic ties with the United States earlier this year.

"The relations between Cuba and Italy are perfect," the visiting Cuban leader said.

Cuba and Italy established diplomatic relations in 1903. The ties were broken off in 1941 during the fascist government of Benito Mussolini and resumed in 1945 by the new Italian government after the Second World War ended.

Castro also addressed the issue of Cuba's relations with the United States.

"Cuba should have never been included in the list of terrorist countries. Perhaps on May 28 the U.S. Senate will remove us from this famous list," he said.

"We are accused of not respecting human rights, but who is respecting them in the world?" Castro pointed out.

"We admit to have committed some mistakes but the issue of human rights should not be exploited or used only for political objectives,"he added.

Earlier on Sunday, Castro also met Pope Francis in Vatican City. The talks lasted for about an hour and were defined as "historical" by local press.

According to local media, Castro thanked Pope Francis for his role in Cuba's thawed relations with the United States, saying "I was very impressed by the wisdom and modesty of Pope Francis." Endit