Call me patient, or call me a fool, but I am willing to give Spain one last chance to show it is on the right side of history in Cuba, with those — especially Cuban political prisoners and other dissidents — struggling for liberty on the island.
That last chance comes Tuesday and Wednesday when Spanish and Cuban officials meet to discuss human rights issues. The agenda, according to EFE, will include the status of political prisoners — which, of course, the Cuban dictatorship denies holding. (I couldn't find an English-language report on the upcoming meeting.)
I suspect the appeasement set in motion last month with Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Moratinos visited Havana will hold be further entrenched — the Spanish have too many business interests in Cuba, and strong taste for distancing themselves from U.S. policy. Even as the Cubans hoodwinked them, they remained silent.
But rare does the Cuban dictatorship agree to sit down to talk about human rights on the island. And when it does, such as at the United Human Rights Council, of which it is a member, it does only to deny there is a problem.
That likely will happen, too, during this week's talks.
If it does, the onus will be on the Spanish to show their mettle, and to stand up to the Cubans and press for the release of political prisoners.
Or to show the world, and the Cuban people, that they are not up for the fight.
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