Cuba has withdrawn its bid to join a trade and aid pact with the EU in protest at Union governments’ criticisms of its human rights’ record

Date: 04/05/2000

Cuban Foreign Minister Perez Roque wrote to the 71 members of African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) bloc stating that "persisting with our membership request would only expose us to be victims of unacceptable demands from the EU". Seven Union governments supported a United Nations resolution last week criticising Cuba's record on democracy.