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CUBAN LIBRARIES
SOLIDARITY GROUP
PRESS RELEASE
EU Common Position
on Cuba
16 August 2003
On their return from the Culture and Development conference in Cuba (9-12
June 2003), CLSG members John Pateman and Monica Martyn wrote to their
MPs (Brian Sedgemore, Labour, Hackney; John Horam, Conservative, Orpington)
about the recent adverse changes to the EU Common Position on Cuba. This
is leading to the EU taking a tougher, not to say hostile, attitude towards
Cuba. This is against the interests of the people of both Cuba and the
EU.
John and Monica received identical replies from Bill Rammell, Parliamentary
Under Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office:
"The EU has not changed its Common Position on Cuba. The Common Position,
which frames EU policy towards Cuba has been upheld, unchanged since it
was first introduced in 1996.
The measures announced on 5 June, while leaving individual Member States
to pursue bilateral relations with Cuba, were agreed by EU Partners in
response to an unjustified and abhorrent crackdown on the human rights
and freedom of Cuban citizens. Since March, 75 individuals have received
a total of 1454 years in prison for their peaceful opposition to the Cuban
regime. The EU has condemned this crackdown strongly, and Member States
agreed the four measures as a calibrated response to the inexcusable actions
of the Cuban government. THe measures ae in line with the existing policy
the EU holds towards Cuba.
The EU is united in its long-standing call for the release of political
prisoners in Cuba, and for the observance of international standards of
human rights. The EU has also made clear its disappointment at the ending
of the de facto moratorium on the death penalty in Cuba with the summary
trial and execution in April of three ferry hijackers attempting to flee
Cuba. We must show the Cuban authorities we will not return to "business
as usual" until these human rights violations are addressed.
EU parties show a common goal for Cuba with the US: a peaceful transition
to a pluralist democracy. Wowever, we are committed to a policy of constructive
engagement to achieve this, rather than isolation. We, along with our
EU partners, vote against the US Embargo every year at the UNGA.
The UK retains cordial and friendly bilateral relations with Cuban authorities.
Earlier this month the Cuban government ratified our Prisoner Transfer
Agreement, and our Embassy supported a recent trade mission to Havana.
UK Sport recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Cuba - one
of only five such agreements in the world. We will continue to operate
within the framework of the Common Position, for the betterment of conditions
for the Cuban population and maintain pressure on Castro's Government
to afford the people of Cuba the full exercise of their human rights".
The CLSG response to this statement is:
* the EU has changed its Common Position on Cuba. It has introduced four
new provisions which will damage the relationship between Cuba and the
EU Member States.
* Cuba has the right to take actions in defence of its independence and
sovereignty, including the arrest and imprisonment of citizens following
the due process of law.
* if the EU is concerned about the release of political prisoners and
human rights it should be taking similar action against the US which is
holding political prioners in inhuman conditions at Guantanamo Bay
* if the EU is concerned about Cuba's very limited use of the death penalty,
it should be taking similar measures against the US, which executes more
of its citizens per head of population every year than any other country.
* the EU should respect Cuba's right to decide its own economic, political
and social systems.
John Pateman
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