Cuban/Brussels talks

Brussels and Havana appear to be making serious progress in their bid to mend relations that were strained by a Cuban crackdown on dissidents five years ago.



Cuban authorities and the French presidency of the European Union are to meet soon, in what is being described as a first step towards resuming their political dialogue.



Spain\'s foreign minister Miguel Angel Moratinos said yesterday that there would soon be an official meeting involving the French president of the EU and Cuban authorities.



He made the announcement during an appearance before a Spanish senate commission.



The minister said the goal of that meeting was to definitively formalise the opening and the start of the political dialogue between Havana and Brussels.