Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-09-03-Speech-3-009"

Predicate	Value (sorted: default)
rdf:type	lpv_eu:Speech2
dcterms:Date	"2003-09-03"^^xsd:date2
dcterms:Is Part Of	lp_eu:EU-Cuba relations2
dcterms:Language	"es"^^xsd:language2
lpv:document identification number	"en.20030903.1.3-009"2
lpv:hasSubsequent	lp_eu:2003-09-03-Speech-3-0102
lpv:speaker	lp:Raimon Obiols2
lpv:spokenAs	substitute; Committee on Culture, Youth, Education, the Media and Sport (2002-01-17--2004-07-19)3 chair; Delegation for relations with the countries of Central America and Mexico (2002-02-07--2004-03-30)3 unknown; Partido Socialista Obrero Español (1999-07-20--2004-07-19)3 vice-chair; PES (1999-07-20--2004-07-19)3 member; Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy (2002-01-17--2004-07-19)3 member; Conference of Delegation Chairs (2002-02-07--2004-03-30)3
lpv:translated text	"Mr President, it should be made clear that the European Union’s position on the current Cuban situation is based on the view that the Cuban people are today subject to a double embargo: an external economic embargo that has lasted more than 40 years and which has indiscriminately harmed all the Cuban people, and a political embargo by a regime against its people, by a regime which denies its people their essential rights of expression and association and the right to democratic and open political participation. The European position should clearly be to reject this double embargo, these two embargoes, which feed off each other, and which promote the most intransigent positions with regard to the future of the Cuban people. In this situation of totally closed positions, uncertainties are appearing with regard to how Cuban politics will evolve. The only certainty is that the person with practically all the decision-making power is 77 years old and, therefore, things in that country are going to change. In recent years there has been a significant emergence of demands for democratic change inside and outside Cuba and, in this regard, the wave of brutal and entirely unacceptable oppression which was unleashed a few months ago contains a political lesson: the need to try, if not to break, at least to slow down this entirely ineluctable process. Within this context, we should not have any illusions with regard to the possibilities of modifying current political decisions on the basis of pressure. If 40 years of embargo have not helped to do this, I believe we should abandon any tactical approach of this sort. From a qualitative point of view, we must take a different position: in view of the prospect of inevitable change, to help the Cuban people, to alleviate their sufferings and their needs and to hold constructive dialogue in order to prevent the change from taking the form of civil confrontation or violent confrontation but, on the contrary, to take the form of peaceful transition based on dialogue, agreement and the national independence of Cuba. I believe this must be the principle underpinning the European Union’s position in relation to the current crisis of change in Cuba. On this basis, moreover, we must be intransigent and vigorous in our demands for human rights for the Cuban people and the demand that those dozens of opposition members, intellectuals and journalists who are in prison should be released, that all people imprisoned as a result of their political persuasions or opinions should be liberated. This must be the essential factor in the European Union’s pursuit of a constructive policy of dialogue and solidarity with the Cuban people."@en1

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