Cocktail Wars
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Cocktail Wars were a series of diplomatic rows between the European Union and Cuba.
The row started in 2003 after European embassies in Cuba made a policy to invite dissidents to diplomatic receptions in the Cuban capital. This move was in protest at Cuba's decision to imprison 75 dissidents and execute 3 hijackers. In retaliation Cuba cut off nearly all official contact between officials and many European Union embassies.
On January 4th 2005 Cuba decided to normalize relations with the embassies of Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Sweden and the UK. This is in addition to already normalized relations with Belgium, Hungary and Spain. This was following a compromise proposed by Brussels, not to invite any Cubans, whether dissidents or ministers to diplomatic functions in the future.
However, the embassies of the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Poland and Slovakia are still on Cuba's blacklist.
