Castro: EU is US’ ‘Trojan horse’
Celebrating the communist revolution in Cuba 50 years ago, President Fidel Castro said Saturday that the EU was the US’ “Trojan horse” and its economic aid no longer welcome.
Aid to Cuba has totaled more than $167 million since 1993.
Relations with the EU and Cuba have been lukewarm after the 15-member union in June said it was to review its relationship with Cuba amid human rights abuse concerns.
In March, 75 “dissidents” were imprisoned with sentences of up to 28 years.
He said the European Union could not act without the US’ say so.
“But now the EU adopts this arrogant and calculated attitude in hope of reconciliation with the masters of the world,” he added, referring to Europe’s approach to the Bush administration.
The 79-year old veteran communist revolutionary told a 10,000 strong rally in Santiago that “Cuba does not need the help of the European Union to survive.”
“The Government of Cuba, out of a basic sense of dignity, relinquishes any aid or remnant of humanitarian aid that may be offered by the European Commission and the governments of the European Union,” Castro said
The 10,000 “invited” guests at the rally wore red or black T-shirts printed with the slogan “carry in the heart the doctrines of the master.”
Remaking on Europe’s inglorious past, he said the union was “a group of old colonial powers historically responsible for slave trafficking, looting and even the extermination of entire peoples.”
On Britain, he was particularly vitriolic. Castro said the Blair government had “brutally murdered” Iraqi weapons expert Dr David Kelly.
