The Italian Foreign Minister, Lamberto Dini, is due to meet the Cuban President, Fidel Castro, in Havana to discuss last month's compromise deal between Europe and the United States over the Helms-Burton law.

Under the deal European countries can expect exemption from US laws which penalise foreign investment in Cuba.

Mr Dini has already offered to help Cuba to integrate more into the international community.

The BBC correspondent in Havana says Cuba fears the deal will weaken the European Union's previously outright opposition to the US embargo.