Cuba: Human Rights Situation Has Deteriorated

Cuba: Human Rights Situation Has Deteriorated

2006-02-02

At the initiative of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe
who tabled an oral question to the Council at Parliament's plenary
session, Members of the House are set to adopt a resolution on the
Union's policy towards the Cuban government. Liberals and Democrats have
rallied the major political groups behind a common text, which
criticizes the Cuban authorities on several points, notably the
deteriorating human rights situation.

"The situation of political prisoners is worsening in Cuba, especially
in the case of freedom of expression and political association", said
Cecilia MALMSTROM (Folkpartiet liberalerna, Sweden), commenting on the
resolution. "The Council must increase its pressure against the aging
dictator in Havana because repression against political prisoners is on
the rise", she added. The resolution also condemns the travel ban on the
Sakharov Prize 2005 laureate Damas de Blanco whose members were not
authorized to travel last December to Strasbourg to receive their prize.
Parliament will urge the EP President to "take all possible steps to
ensure that the prize winners can indeed receive the Sakharov Prize in
person".

Cecilia Malmstrom also called for the Council to reflect upon its
position towards Cuba: "It's high time to evaluate our policies since
the Council softened its position towards Cuba a year ago. At the least,
its certain that the situation in Cuba hasn't improved", she insisted.

For more information please contact:
Neil Corlett: +32-2-284 20 77 or +32-478-78 22 84
Joelle Fiss: +32-2-283 10 88 or +32-496-54 83 94
also consult: http://alde.europarl.eu.int/

http://www.presslingua.com/web/article.asp?artID=4363