The European Union's top development aid official met with Cuba's foreign minister on Friday as part of an effort to improve chilly relations with the communist government under new President Raul Castro, according to The Associated Press. Louis Michel's four-day mission was planned before last month's official hand-over of power from 81-year-old Fidel Castro to his younger brother. It is the first high-level visit of an EU official since 2005. Michel's meeting with Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque extended well past the scheduled 90 minutes and there was no immediate word on what was discussed. Michel's spokesman, John Clancy, has said the European Commission wants to see «the resumption of an open and constructive political dialogue» with Cuban leaders.
