Reply to interpellation by Storting representative Inger Lise Husøy to the Minister of Foreign Affairs on Cuba

Translated from Norwegian

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The Storting, 16 May 2001

Mr. President,

Like a number of other countries, Norway has intensified its cooperation and contact with Cuba. Contact between states and between peoples, even in cases where there are strong political and other differences, is in line with the main trend of Norwegian foreign policy. We believe in dialogue, not isolation. At the same time we have noted that certain countries pursue a different policy in relation to Cuba.

During the last few years bilateral relations between Norway and Cuba have developed in a promising direction, with greater political contact. However, although our relations are good, they are still limited, particularly in the economic field. Thus it is very satisfactory to note that several Norwegian organizations have become involved in cooperation in various sectors of Cuban society, such as the cooperation between the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions and the Cuban trade union movement, and projects under Norwegian People’s Aid.

I think the key to our future cooperation with Cuba lies in establishing the broadest possible contact in all sectors of society between our two countries. Irrespective of the political system of a country, this type of contact is essential if the country is to cope with a globalized world economy. Cuba should be given the opportunity to participate fully in the international community. This is why Norway, like the great majority of UN members, votes against the embargo against Cuba at the General Assembly every year.

Mr. President,

Our trade with Cuba amounted to less than NOK 10 million in 1999. The Government would like to see an expansion of our economic ties with Cuba, and is prepared to facilitate industrial and commercial cooperation with the country. However, the initiative for this must in the first instance come from the business community itself, and must take account of the existing operating parameters. Norwegian companies that are interested in Cuba, mainly small and medium-sized enterprises, are very dependent on predictable conditions. Thus it is important that Cuba, too, creates favourable conditions for their presence in the country.

In order to improve the framework for private sector cooperation, we are in the process of preparing a draft agreement between Norway and Cuba on the protection of investment. We are also considering adding Cuba to the list of countries covered by the scheme for supporting the marketing of goods from developing countries and the guarantee scheme for reducing the risks run by importers that import directly from developing countries.

The Government wishes to enhance the Cubans’ knowledge of sectors where Norway has particular expertise. Cuba is in the process of becoming involved in the exploitation of petroleum on the continental shelf and has potential in the fisheries sector. In the energy and environmental sector Norway has already contributed to the investigation of opportunities for producing environmentally friendly energy from biomass. There are a number of interesting possibilities in this area, which could lead to cooperation between Cuba and other Latin American countries.

Mr. President,

Since the re-establishment of political contact in 1996, there have been a number of visits at political level both to and from Cuba. I myself have met the Cuban foreign minister in connection with meetings at the UN, and invitations have been exchanged for reciprocal bilateral visits by the two foreign ministers. State Secretary Johansen also visited Cuba last November and in the past year we have had two visits from the Cuban deputy foreign minister. These visits provided an opportunity for a broad exchange of views on the prospects for the further development of the ties between the two countries.

The Government’s goal is to strengthen and expand Norway’s ties with Cuba. In order to do this, we have as you know decided to re-open the embassy in Cuba. This will take place next month. This means that Norway will be directly represented in Cuba for the first time for many years.

Through our permanent presence in Cuba we will be in a better position than before to follow up the various elements of the dialogue with Cuba that we have built up over the past two or three years.

Mr. President,

It is still true to say that Cuba has made much more progress in implementing social, economic and cultural rights than political or civil ones. A standardized ideology continues to be a problem that is reflected among other things in the persecution of political opponents and the violation of their human rights.

Since 1998 Norway has managed to conduct a constructive dialogue on human rights with Cuba, and two seminars have been held with a focus on democracy, human rights and the principles of the rule of law. The parties involved considered at the time that the seminars constituted a good basis for further dialogue and cooperation, and new ones were planned. However, this dialogue was suspended by Cuba after the 56 ^th> session of the UN Commission on Human Rights in spring 2000, because Cuba was displeased with the way Norway and other European countries voted on a number of issues.

We consider, however, that it should be possible to conduct a constructive bilateral dialogue independently of the way a country votes in international organizations, and we are prepared to continue this dialogue.

The same applies to the dialogue between journalists from Norway and Cuba. We are prepared to continue our support for this when the parties consider it appropriate to resume it. Freedom of expression and freedom of the press are valuable points of departure for expanding contacts.

The Cubans usually cite the US blockade as an explanation for most of their problems. This applies not only to economic matters but also to the limited freedom of expression and violations of human rights. Today there are very few countries that find US policy in this area to be either meaningful or justifiable, and at the 55 ^th> UN General Assembly last autumn Norway voted, as on previous occasions, in favour of the resolution on the lifting of the US blockade against Cuba.

Cuba has for many years been one of the most developed countries in Latin America as regards its health service. One of the subjects we have discussed with the Cuban authorities is cooperation in this field in third countries, and there is a dialogue going on to concretize the cooperation in this field.

Generally speaking Norway is interested in a closer dialogue with Cuba on regional as well as other issues. This applies especially to the progress of the peace process in Colombia, where we are both members of the group of friends and have so far cooperated well together in the process.

Mr. President,

As I have already mentioned, we appreciate the many contacts between institutions and individuals in Norway and Cuba, not least in the cultural field. Tourism is also resulting in greater interest in Cuba and greater knowledge of the country. When our embassy is in place in Havana, it will be able to develop and strengthen such contacts as well as official relations between the countries. This will result in the development of broader ties between Norway and Cuba.

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