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CUBAN LIBRARIES
SOLIDARITY GROUP Strasbourg Twins with Cuban Libraries The “Cuban libraries” which Strasbourg is twinned with are not libraries - they are collections of books in the private homes of individual Cubans, who are not qualified librarians or members of the Cuban Library Association. These “independent libraries” are neither independent or libraries. They receive funding and support from the US Interests Section in Havana and from the US Agency for International Development, under Track 2 of the Torricelli Act, which seeks to actively undermine the Cuban government. I have visited one of these “independent libraries” in Havana. This “library” was in the home of Rogelio Travieso Perez. He is not the “Director” of a library. He is the Human Rights Secretary of the Democractic Solidarity Party. These “libraries” are a front for political activity. No
librarians have been harrassed, arrested or imprisoned in Cuba. The
Cuban library system is used by over 70% of the Cuban
people
and is highly
inclusive, with long opening hours, good staffing levels and
a wide range and depth of stock. Books are cheap to buy. The
literacy
rate
is nearly
100%. The major impediment to libraries and publishing in Cuba
is the US blockade. In doing so, the mayor is encouraging his citizens to break the cultural blockade of Cuba which was imposed last June when the EC amended its Common Position on Cuba. This lead to the German government withdrawing its support from the Havana Book Fair in February. “ The mayor’s office of Strasbourg and its city journal “Strasbourg Magazine,” at the request of the freedom of the press organization Reporters Without Borders, sponsors the poet and independent journalist Raúl Rivero.” Reporters Without Frontiers has links with Bacardi, the CIA, the Cuban American National Foundation and other opponents of the Cuban government. “ Awaiting your reply, which will demonstrate that we have broken the blockade imposed by the Cuban government against its own people, we greet you in the hope that we can help Cubans in their search for the road toward democracy and prosperity.” The mayor should respect the sovereignty of the Cuban people who have freely chosen their own economic, political and social systems. Cuban librarians do not presume to tell the German government how to manage its affairs. If the mayor is truly interested in the freedom of the Cuban people he should direct his efforts against the illegal US economic blockade of Cuba and against the EU Common Position and cultural blockade of Cuba. Yours faithfully, John Pateman
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