Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-09-03-Speech-3-006"
| Predicate | Value (sorted: default) |
|---|---|
| rdf:type | |
| dcterms:Date | |
| dcterms:Is Part Of | |
| dcterms:Language | |
| lpv:document identification number |
"en.20030903.1.3-006"2
|
| lpv:hasSubsequent | |
| lpv:speaker | |
| lpv:translated text |
".
Mr President, I would like to thank Mr Brok for his speech.
The measures made public through the initiative of 5 June last and the Council’s conclusions of June and July 2003 seek to make clear the European Union’s support for the Cuban non-violent, democratic opposition and to show the Cuban authorities that trade cannot proceed normally in the absence of tangible gestures from that government. Our concern relates to political freedoms, as I said, and also to the refusal – despite limited, hesitant openings – to allow greater private initiative in the economic sector.
The Union’s Heads of Mission will continue to monitor the situation of political prisoners and conditions in which they are being held in Havana. Political dialogue with Cuba, resumed in 2001, should certainly be pursued, but under the conditions and constraints which I have mentioned. Of course, political dialogue also covers the human rights situation.
We regretted the refusal to take part in political dialogue expressed by the Cuban authorities in public statements made even just recently and the public decision to reject funding from European countries and from the Commission. Over these six months, the Presidency, consulting Parliament for its opinions, will concentrate on finding ways of increasing the tangible effectiveness of political dialogue, ensuring that it is frank, constructive and, of course – when necessary – critical too.
The Council Presidency has, on a number of occasions in past months, issued public statements and made vigorous representations to the Cuban Government since the deterioration – we can make no bones about this – in March 2003 of the already precarious situation as regards the exercising of individual freedoms and rights in Havana. Recently, on 21 July 2003, the European Council confirmed that the objectives of the European Union’s policy on Cuba remain respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, the promotion of a process of transition to a pluralist democracy, and sustainable economic recovery to improve the quality of life of the Cuban people. The Presidency notes that, since the last evaluations, not only has the Cuban Government not taken any positive measures to satisfy the objectives of this European measure but the human rights situation has also deteriorated further.
The European Union expects the Cuban authorities to reintroduce the
moratorium on the death penalty; we call once again upon the Cuban authorities to release all political prisoners immediately and we call for the prisoners not to be subjected to suffering or inhumane treatment in the meantime.
In recent months, the media – the Cuban media themselves – have reported that Internet access is being increasingly limited, that satellite television stations and also foreign newspapers and radio broadcasting equipment have been seized. Freedom of movement is extremely restricted, both within the country and at international level.
The Presidency regrets the lack of – even – intention to proceed towards restoration of economic and civil freedoms. All this certainly makes the daily lives of the Cuban citizens difficult. Once again, we strongly urge and encourage the Cuban Government to give an indication of economic reopening and of the existence of a private economic sector in Cuba.
In the light of what I have just said, the Presidency calls, once again, for a change of attitude. The common position already issued in recent months still stands: there must be a constructive, ongoing endeavour to lay the foundations of the Union’s policy on Cuba. In order to promote more effective implementation of the objectives of this European common position, the Council believes that we need to pursue political dialogue, intense, critical dialogue, indeed, to contribute to the achievement of tangible results, first and foremost in the field of politics and, therefore, where political freedoms, the economy and civil rights are concerned too.
The Council would therefore be willing – and I use the conditional tense here – to support an increase in European Union development cooperation where Cuba is concerned, in the areas which could further the transition, the path to pluralist democracy and respect for human rights, and in the areas which could improve the quality of life of the Cuban people and therefore contribute to sustainable economic growth too.
In the opinion of the Presidency, these funds should be granted only where there is a guarantee of a genuine, immediate benefit for the Cuban people or a major contribution to a process of opening up Cuba to a series of economic reforms. Clearly, therefore – and I will conclude by answering some of the questions posed by Mr Brok – the measures adopted by Cuba, which Europe deems to be a violation of fundamental civil and political rights, have influenced the Union’s relations with the country.
As the European Commission has already said, it has decided to postpone its evaluation, which is necessary to any analysis of Cuba’s request to sign the Cotonou Agreement. Moreover, the withdrawal of Cuba’s request for the second time on 17 May 2003 came as no surprise, although the Council is not required to comment on that decision. I will merely say that we were not surprised."@en1
|
| lpv:unclassifiedMetadata |
Named graphs describing this resource:
The resource appears as object in 2 triples