HAVANA, July 23 (RIA Novosti) - European Commissioner for Foreign Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner was to arrive in Havana on Thursday for discussions on relations between the EU and Cuba, local media reported.
The European Union resumed diplomatic ties with Cuba last fall after they were suspended in 2003 following a series of arrests of dissidents.
"It is expected that the European commissioner will discuss relations between Cuba and the European Commission and also some other international policy matters with the [Cuban] authorities," Granma newspaper reported on Thursday.
Cuba has said it was ready to have a dialogue with EU, though questions on Cuban justice system could not be discussed as they are an internal affair.
European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid Louis Michel visited Havana in March and said it was the right time for political dialogue between the EU and Cuba.
The visit to Cuba wraps up Ferrero-Waldner's Latin American trip, which included stops in Mexico and Argentina.
In Buenos Aires, she called for "a deepening of the political dialogue" with Cuba, adding that Havana is making "positive steps" in this direction, Latin American media reported.
Ferrero-Waldner pointed to food security, trade, the environment and technological research as areas of bilateral cooperation with Cuba.
Her visit ends late Thursday.
