Improved US-Cuban Ties Could Lead to Cuba's Democratization: Madrid

Madrid hopes that the normalization of the US-Cuba relations will lead to the improvement of the standards of living and to the improved standards in democracy in Cuba, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said.

MADRID, December 18 (Sputnik) — Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy welcomed Thursday the efforts of the United States and Cuba to normalize bilateral relations and expressed hope that the warming of relations between the two countries would lead to Cuba's democratization.

On Wednesday, Washington and Havana announced plans to begin working towards the normalization of bilateral relations after cutting diplomatic ties in 1961.

"We hope and look forward to it [the normalization of the US-Cuba relations] to lead to the improvement of the standards of living and to the improved standards in democracy in Cuba," Rajoy told journalists in Brussels, adding that Spain continues to support all democratic developments in Cuba.

According to Rajoy, engaging in dialogue and maintaining diplomatic relations is always better than "turning away from each other."

Former Foreign Minister of Spain and former NATO Secretary General, Javier Solana also welcomed the move by Washington and Havana, admitting however that he was surprised by its timing.

"The normalization of [the US-Cuba] relations was expected, what was unexpected is that it happened now," Solana said in an interview with the Spanish radio Cadena Ser.

According to Solana, who is also the former EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy, the current warming in relations with Cuba will allow the United States "to conduct new policy in Latin America."

"This extraordinary event demonstrates that even when their power seems to begin to wear thin, US presidents are capable of great deeds," Solana said

Following the Cuban Revolution of 1959, the island's new authorities, led by Fidel Castro, decided to nationalize property belonging to US corporations, including several oil-production factories. The move led to the deterioration of relations between the two countries and a subsequent embargo on trade and travel to and from Cuba, introduced by the United States.

As Cuba's third largest trading partner and largest European investor in the country, Spain maintains strong economic, political and cultural ties with Cuba.