The German government on Thursday protested against Cuba's refusal to allow Germany’s human rights advisor
                                Claudia Roth to visit the island. “The current self-isolation of Cuba is hurting the Cuban population,” the Foreign Ministry
                                said in a statement, according to the Reuters news agency. It said Cuba's decision not to issue Roth an entry visa “is not in
                                line with international practice. Neither is it the positive signal hoped for from the Cuban government.” Roth, a member of
                                the German parliament and former co-leader of the Green Party, had planned to spend a week in Cuba to hold talks
                                with government officials as well as dissidents.