Italy calls for stronger European links with Cuba

CNN January 21, 1999 Italy calls for stronger European links with Cuba

ROME (Reuters) - Italian Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini Thursday urged
stronger ties between the European Union and Cuba.

                  At a meeting with his Cuban counterpart Roberto Robaina, "Dini underlined
                  the importance of developing links between Cuba and the European Union
                  in order to keep up with the democratic and social-economic developments
                  on the island," the Italian foreign ministry said in a statement.

                  "Both sides took note of the positive level of economic links which put Italy
                  in third place, after Canada and Spain, in terms of investment (in Cuba)
                  especially in the tourism sector," the statement said.

Last year, 1.4 million tourists visited Cuba in 1998, generating $1.8 million in
revenues and the country says it expects some 1.7 million visitors this year.

Italy is the second largest source of foreign visitors to Cuba after Canada
and followed by Germany, Spain, France, Britain, Mexico and Argentina.