Cuba Promises Rights Reform, Arrests 3 Dissidents
HAVANA — Canada’s foreign minister left Cuba on Wednesday with fresh promises of human rights reform and a vivid example of how difficult it will be to get Fidel Castro to abide by those promises.
A few hours after Castro and Lloyd Axworthy discussed human rights Tuesday night, Cuban police arrested three dissidents involved in trying to produce independent economic reports and news articles.
Axworthy said he made inquiries about those arrested and was satisfied by their release hours later.
While Castro was elusive on the issue of human rights, the two made a joint declaration on ways Canada and Cuba could work together to improve the rights of Cubans.
Rejecting U.S. attempts to isolate Cuba, Axworthy this week became the highest-ranking Canadian official to visit the island in more than 20 years. U.S. relations with Cuba have been frozen since Castro came to power in 1959.
Axworthy wrapped up his trip with a second meeting with Castro on Wednesday.
“I don’t want to tell you that we have great breakthroughs,†Axworthy told reporters. “It’s a work in progress.â€
Among other things, the declaration calls for:
* Deepening cooperation on human rights, including the preparation of seminars, and academic exchanges.
* Cooperation in the administration of justice and the legal system.
* The exchange of information to aid Cuba in its stated intention to strengthen a citizens complaint commission within the National Assembly.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
