Chretien Urges Castro to Free Dissidents
Canada’s prime minister discussed human rights with Fidel Castro on Monday, giving the Cuban president a list of four dissidents Canada would like to see freed.
But Jean Chretien declined a direct meeting with other prominent dissidents, sending aides to meet them instead.
Chretien, one of the most important Western visitors to Cuba in years, said he dedicated about a third of his 2 1/2-hour meeting with Castro to rights issues.
“He defended his legal system, but he took the list and said he would consider it,” Chretien told a news conference after the meeting. “I didn’t think he was very happy.”
Earlier, Chretien and Castro witnessed the signing of agreements on health, film and sports cooperation.
Chretien also announced an agreement in principle for Cuba to pay compensation for the assets of insurance companies expropriated after the 1959 revolution, helping pave the way for negotiation of a framework to protect and promote Canadian investment in Cuba.
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