OSLO, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Norway said on Monday that Cuba had agreed to discuss human rights in what Oslo hailed as a sign of greater political openness by Havana after a visit this year by Pope John Paul II.
``We proposed to expand our already existing cooperation with the Cubans into a human rights dialogue...on social and economic rights and civil and political rights,'' deputy foreign minister Janne Haaland Matlary said.
``They were very favourable to this idea,'' she said after returning from a week-long trip to the Caribbean island, ruled since 1959 by Communist President Fidel Castro.
Haaland Matlary said that, as a first step, Cuba would host a seminar in about six months' time on the rule of law and the role of the judiciary, partly arranged by Norwegian professor Jan Helgesen.
``It will focus on freedom of expression,'' she said. ``Cuba is is interested in developing this kind of cooperation. It's a sign that (Cuba) is opening up after the papal visit.''
Pope John Paul visited Cuba for five days in January in a landmark visit that consolidated an official thawing towards religion in the atheist state.
Norway, which helped broker the landmark 1993 peace accords between Israel and the Palestinians, likes to see itself as a neutral broker outside the European Union. Officials said Canada has also won assurances of wider political dialogue with Cuba.
During her visit, Haaland Matlary said she jointly hosted a seminar on the press, globalisation of the media and the role of journalists in Havana.
Norway also agreed to work with Cuba on examining economic management. ``We have experiences that are perhaps important to the Cubans, like maintaining the welfare state amid the pressures of globalisation,'' she said.
12:14 09-14-98
Copyright 1998 Reuters