Cuba sees lifting of EU sanctions as good step

By Esteban Israel

HAVANA (Reuters) - The European Union's decision on Thursday to lift sanctions against Cuba appears to be "a step in the right direction" but still must be fully evaluated, Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque said.

The EU's foreign ministers agreed to lift the diplomatic sanctions that, despite having been suspended since 2005, impeded the normalization of relations between the communist island and the European bloc.

"If it has happened (as described in the news), I think that, yes, it's a step in the right direction," Perez Roque told Reuters on Thursday night during a reception for visiting Uruguayan President Tabare Vazquez.

"We've seen the news, but we'll take our time in evaluating the issue, knowing the official decisions and, in the appropriate moment, we will react in an official way," he said.

The document agreed upon in Brussels after torturous negotiations, will be released on Monday, after which Perez Roque said Cuba will determine its position.

With the elimination of the sanctions, imposed in 2003 in response to the arrest of 75 dissidents, the EU wants to encourage reforms started by new Cuban President Raul Castro since he formally replaced his brother Fidel Castro in February.

The EU made clear, however, that it expects improvements in human rights and wants to see more political prisoners freed. It said it will review its decision in a year.

Perez Roque said Cuba would not accept any pressure from the EU.