(BRUSSELS) - The European Union welcomed Tuesday as a "positive development" Cuba's decision to sign two UN human rights pacts, in an unprecedented gesture days after Raul Castro took over as president.

"The EU has long sought the universal ratification of these core instruments of international human rights law and the signing by Cuba of both covenants represents a positive development," the EU's Slovenian presidency said.

Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque announced in New York on Thursday that he had signed the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

For decades, Havana had refused to sign the pacts, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1966, saying to do so would be to cede to US pressure. The minister said such pressure played no part in the decision to sign them.

It was the first international act taken by the new leadership of Raul Castro, who on February 24 took over as Cuban president from his brother, Fidel Castro, ending almost 50 years under his rule.

The most radical dissidents in Cuba denounced what they called "a farce".

The European Union as a bloc does not have normalised relations with Cuba, even though some nations, led by Spain, do.

The European Union imposed political and diplomatic sanctions on Cuba in 2003 after Castro's regime sentenced 75 dissidents to lengthy prison terms and executed three young Cubans who had tried to flee to the United States by boat.

The sanctions -- which notably included restrictions on bilateral government visits -- were suspended in January 2005 at Spain's initiative, following the release of several dissidents.

But objections continue to be voiced, notably from Britain and the Czech Republic, which believe normalisation should not take place without democratic reforms in Cuba.

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