MEPs call for tougher line on Cuba

MEPs call for tougher line on Cuba
03.02.2006 - 10:18 CET | By Teresa Küchler

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The European Parliament believes that the
EU-Cuba diplomacy project has failed, and urges for a tougher Brussels
stance on the commmunist regime in Havana.

MEPs on Thursday (2 February) adopted a resolution denouncing the lack
of respect for human rights on Cuba.

The resolution, adopted with 560 votes in favour and 30 against, states
that so far the political dialogue with Cuba has not led to greater
freedom on the island or improved bilateral relations, and says EU
member states should "act accordingly".

MEPs condemn the increase in the number of political prisoners and
prisoners of conscience, and the ban on the "Women in White"- mothers,
wives and sisters to imprisoned - from travelling to the European
Parliament to receive the human rights Sakharov prize in December.

"Scores of independent journalists, peaceful dissidents and upholders of
human rights are still being held in jail in subhuman conditions," the
parliament resolution says.

MEPs during the debate ahead of the vote stated that it was particularly
unacceptable and shocking that some of the political prisoners are not
receiving the help they need and are in very poor medical condition.

"These facts deceive the aspirations to improve relations between Cuba
and the EU," MEPs stated, adding that repression in Cuba is worsening,
despite a recent attempt by the EU to boost diplomatic ties with Cuban
president Fidel Castro.

In January 2005, the EU tried to normalize relations with Havana,
without abandoning the objectives previously set in the so-called Common
Position on Cuba: peaceful democratisation, promotion of basic rights
and freedoms and improvement in living conditions of all Cubans.

But the hope of a more open attitude from the Castro regime side has
apparently not been fulfilled, MEPs argued, saying that on the contrary,
the human rights situation has deteriorated.

During 2005, Cuba did not release a single political prisoner and the
number of prisoners grew, according to the Cuban Commission for Human
Rights and National Reconciliation, a dissident group.

German communist MEP Willy Meyer, one of the minority voices that spoke
against the condemnatory resolution on Thursday, defended Cuba on
grounds of the regime’s solidarity with poor countries and its social
achievements, arguing that the EU should not run errands for the US.

Also the Spanish socialist MEP Miguel Angel Martinez, member of the
group Friends of Cuba, defended Cuba.

Mr Martinez said the resolution was flawed and lacking in reference to
Guantanamo (US prison camp in a US military base on Cuba), "the worst
violation of human rights on the island," he said.

http://euobserver.com/24/20833