Díaz-Canel meets with the Special Representative of the European Union for Human Rights

The Cuban ruler,Miguel Diaz-Canel, met this Friday with the Special Representative of theEuropean Union (EU) for Human Rights (HR),Eamon Gilmore, whom he received at the Palace of the Revolution at the end of the European official's work day in Havana.

“President Díaz-Canel received today Eamon Gilmore, special representative of the European Union for Human Rights. The president ratified Cuba's commitment to address any human rights issue, on the basis of mutual respect and cooperation," stated the Presidency of Cuba through its social networks.

The meeting with the president put an end to the visit of the European official, amidst the uncertainty of theCuban civil society about whether their insistent complaints about the situation of themore than 1,000 political prisoners of the regime and their families.

This Friday,Gilmore met with authorities of the Cuban regime and alleged “civil society actors”, at the headquarters of the Cuban Association of the United Nations (ACNU), where he was received by its president,Norma Goicoechea Estenoz, who was Cuban ambassador to the European Union.

The diplomat of the regime, who defines herself on her social networks as "mother, grandmother and revolutionary" - and affirms that "Fidel and Martí taught us that a better world is possible", chaired a meeting with alleged actors from Cuban civil society, that met in a room surrounded by propaganda posters of the revolution and a giant portrait of the dictatorFidel Castro.

“A full day of meetings with the Minister of Justice, the Deputy Minister of the Interior, the Attorney General, the National Assembly and with a wide range of civil society organizations and actors, of diverse origins and opinions. All topics discussed,” Gilmore said through his social networks.

At the time of writing this note, it is unknown if the Representative for Human Rights of the European bloc visited any of the more than a thousand political prisoners of the dictatorship or their relatives, as they demanded of the EU.members of Cuban civil society, opponents anda majority of European parliamentarians.

“Eamon Gilmore traveled to Havana to participate in the IV Human Rights Dialogue between Cuba and the European Union. These exchanges are part of the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement between Cuba and the EU [ACDP]. At the end of his visit, he is received by Díaz-Canel,” explained the Presidency in X.

Gilmore's visit will serve to "analyze the situation createdbefore, during and after the demonstrations and arrests” of 11J, the High Representative said in May,Joseph Borrell, during his visit to Havana. However, as of today, his envoy has not even mentionedthe historic protests of 11J, or the hundreds of its protesters who remain in prisons.

Once again, the expectations of all Cuban activists, opponents and independent journalists are apparently relegated in the framework of relations that the EU intends to build with the Cuban regime through the ACDP, which includes holding dialogues on human rights issues, like the one Gilmore went to co-chair.

“How good, finally someone is going to talk about human rights with the one who gave the order to beat the people!”, a Cuban social media user responded to the Presidency, sarcastically expressing the majority sentiment of Cuban civil society.