PARIS.— Cuba reiterated on Thursday its readiness to hold a dialogue with the European Union on the basis of reciprocity, full respect for sovereign equality, and non-interference in the internal affairs of states, Prensa Latina news agency reports.

In the framework of a meeting here of the Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez with his Spanish counterpart Miguel Angel Moratinos, Rodriguez once again deplored the unilateral Common Position of the EU with regards to Cuba.

"We reject the interventionist and unilateral Common Position of the European Union towards our country, which is the main obstacle for a full normalization of relations," stated Rodriguez.

On an invitation from the European side, the Cuban Foreign minister attended a political dialogue with the European Troika at the ministerial level, as a follow up to the dialogue started in October 2008 in Paris.

According to an official Cuban delegation communiqué, during the meeting the EU presidency and the European Commission expressed their interest in strengthening cooperation with Cuba and establishing a contractual framework between the two sides.

Rodriguez also conveyed Cuba’s willingness to negotiate a bilateral framework of relations with the European Union that will include political, commercial and cooperation links.

The Cuban top diplomat also expressed the island’s readiness to maintain a respectful relationship, which will necessarily require that the EU recognizes and treats Cuba on the basis of equality and respect for the sovereignty of states.

In addition to Moratinos, in Spain’s capacity as the current EU president, the meeting was attended by other representatives of the European Commission and the General Secretariat of the EU Council.