By FRANCESCA MOLD political reporter
Cuba's support for the imprisonment of Taleban leaders and al Qaeda troops at the United States-controlled Guantanamo Bay naval base signals a thawing in the troubled relationship between the two countries, says Foreign Affairs Minister Phil Goff.
Mr Goff has spent the past two days in Cuba on a tour to promote New Zealand as part of an long-term plan by the Government to strengthen economic and cultural ties with Latin America.
Mr Goff met senior ministers, who advised him that Cuba supported the detainment of more than 100 prisoners suspected of involvement with terrorist leader Osama bin Laden at the base, which has been leased by the US since 1903.
Mr Goff said Cuba had offered the US assistance with medical facilities and sanitation.
"I think it's quite a deliberate act on the part of the Cubans to seek a thawing of the relationship with the United States."
The US put an economic freeze on Cuba more than 40 years ago when the Government, led by revolutionary Fidel Castro, seized an estimated $1 billion in American-owned property.
A complete break in diplomatic relations occurred in 1961 when Cuban exiles, trained and supported by the US, invaded at the Bay of Pigs. American-Cuban relations became even more hostile when the US discovered Soviet-supplied missile installations in Cuba in 1962.
Mr Goff said he had discussed with Cuban ministers New Zealand's desire for the US to reconsider whether the economic embargo was achieving anything.
"Our view is that not only does it not serve any purpose but it may well be counter-productive in terms of the ability to influence Cuba in the areas where we still have strong differences, like democracy and upholding human rights."
Mr Goff said his trip to Guatemala, El Salvador and Cuba had received a high level of media coverage in all three countries.
"It has really put New Zealand on the map here."
Mr Goff leaves for Peru today.
The minister said he thought the Government's plan to heavily promote New Zealand in Latin America was paying off.
Last year, New Zealand's trade with the four countries had increased by 84 per cent and our export market of mostly dairy products was now worth $350 million.
"I think we will see at the end of three years a vastly improved relationship with a huge continent which now has become largely democratic and which has the potential to be important to New Zealand right across the board, including tourism and trade."
Mr Goff said his talks had also covered Cuba's decision not to sign a non-proliferation treaty for nuclear weaponry, Japan's bid to resume commercial whaling and ways to promote trade and develop cultural ties between New Zealand and the Caribbean nation.
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