European Union (EU) foreign ministers, who met here on Monday, agreed Monday to set up "constructive dialogue" with the Cuban government, thus ending a freeze on bilateral high-level contacts since March 2003.

The decision of restoring normal diplomatic ties with Cuba was a response of the gesture made by Cuba not long ago, in which Cubasaid it would resume official contacts with the EU.

Speaking to a press conference, Luxembourg's Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn, whose country is holding the rotating EU presidency, said the EU was now willing to resume "a constructive dialogue with the Cuban authorities aiming at tangible results in the political, economic, human rights and cooperation sphere."

However, Asselborn said the EU would also seek "close contacts with the opposition and civil society" of Cuba.

The minister also said the EU foreign ministers would review the decision again before July this year.

The EU imposed the freeze on its diplomatic relations with Cubain March 2003.