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News & Events
STATEMENT BY THE EUROPE-CUBA NGO NETWORK IN SUPPORT OF EU
02.09.2010
The Europe-Cuba NGO Network welcomes the recent steps by the Cuban government which show some progress in the area of human rights and democracy. We also appreciate that the Cuban government has acknowledged the existence of political prisoners on the island by releasing a significant number of them. The international community, however, should make sure that the release of these prisoners is unconditional, their exile only optional, and their living and working conditions are adequate. In relation to this, we call on the Cuban government to immediately release Dr. Oscar Elķas Biscet and other prisoners who have expressed their desire to stay in Cuba. In September, the European Union will decide on the future of its Common Position on Cuba, as the revision was postponed in June until the autumn months. In light of the efforts of Spanish government to replace the Common Position with a bilateral agreement, we call on the EU to maintain its Common Position as a sign of support for democracy and human rights in Cuba. It is important to stress here that the maintaining of the Common Position was recently officially supported by the released political prisoners exiled in Spain. As a document, the Common Position does not represent an obstacle to progress in EU-Cuba relations. In paragraph 4, the Common Position states that the European Union will support progress towards democracy in Cuba by, apart from other means, intensification of political dialogue and economic cooperation. In this light, the EU can apply additional interim measures that will reflect recent developments on the island - such as fostering of people to people dialogue through diplomatic and academic visits, and the deepening of dialogue with the Cuban authorities. It is also necessary to reinforce, to extend and to intensify at an institutional level the dialogue with the democratic opposition and independent civil society. If the Cuban government continues and reinforces respect for human rights and democracy with further positive steps, the EU should consider official lifting of the diplomatic measures introduced in 2003. However, if taking any steps that would lead to closer cooperation between the EU and Cuba, the EU must set criteria which reflect overall progress in the area of human rights and democracy. These criteria might include patterns of documented harassment and acts of repression against political prisoners, political dissidents and independent civil society in general, as well as ratification and implementation of the ICCPR and ICESCR, etc. Progress should then be revised in the current semiannual cycle, without using additional instruments, as was the case in June, when the EU decided to provide extra three-month period before reviewing the Common Position on Cuba.The Europe-Cuba NGO Network would hereby like to express its hope that these steps of the Cuban government mark the beginning of its opening a dialogue on human rights and democracy, becoming thus a partner for the EU and its members.
This statement has been endorsed by the following organizations:
Asociación de Iberoamericanos por la Libertad, Spain Cuba Futuro, Netherlands Christian Solidarity Worldwide, United Kingdom and Belgium Freedom House Europe, Hungary Fundación Hispano Cubana, Spain International Society for Human Rights, Germany IKV Pax Christi, Netherlands KIC (Christian Democratic International Center), Sweden People in Need, Czech Republic People in Peril Association, Slovakia