EU leader: Cuba must make human rights gestures

Cuba's acting President Raul Castro speaks to a crowd in Havana's Revolution Square during the parade to mark the 50th anniversary celebration of the forming of Cuba's Revolutionary Armed Forces December 2, 2006 in Havana, Cuba. (Joe Raedle, Getty Images)

HAVANA (AP) — The European Union's development commissioner wants Cuba to show signs it's serious about protecting fundamental human rights.

Karel De Gucht met with Raul Castro while wrapping up a three-day visit to Cuba and says he held "open, frank and constructive" talks with several top Cuban officials.

He said Wednesday night that the "position of the EU is not regime change," but that "on Cuba's part, dialogue implies gestures be made on universal human rights."

The island's communist government wants the EU to scrap its "common position" calling for a transition to democracy and better human rights guarantees in Cuba.

Relations between the island and the EU are improving after five years of tension over Cuba's human rights record.

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