CUBAN LIBRARIES SOLIDARITY GROUP
PRESS RELEASE

July 4, 2003
Cuba Resolution
Brian Campbell

CUBA RESOLUTION

Whereas Cuba is a small impoverished island of 11 million people;

And Whereas Cuba has achieved for its entire population a high standard of healthcare, basic literacy, nutrition and education;

And Whereas Cuba has been subject to continuous foreign attempts to undermine its government through economic blockades, subversion, military adventures, assassination attempts and funding of political opposition through “civil society” organizations;

And Whereas Cuba is being challenged by foreign governments and organizations for not upholding the core library principles of intellectual freedom and access to information regarding its libraries as part of a broader effort to overthrow the Cuban government;

And Whereas ending such foreign intervention is a precondition for enabling Cuba to develop fully its own social economy and broad democratic participation and debate;

And Whereas Cuban libraries can play an important role in developing a full and democratic culture within Cuba;

Therefore Be It Resolved that CLA opposes any foreign government attempts to undermine Cuba’s government through economic blockades, subversion, military adventures, assassination attempts and outside funding of political opposition through “civil society” organizations;

And Be It Further Resolved that CLA call upon International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) to convene an international Commission of eminent and independent librarians to hold public hearings to investigate further the role of “independent libraries” in Cuba and charges that they are funded through foreign agencies whose political program is regime change;

And Be It Further Resolved that CLA encourage such a Commission to publish and disseminate widely the results of its findings.

Moved By Brian Campbell
Seconded by Martin Dowding
Passed by Canadian Library Association 7/23/03

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