Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2004-11-16-Speech-2-136"
| Predicate | Value (sorted: default) |
|---|---|
| rdf:type | |
| dcterms:Date | |
| dcterms:Is Part Of | |
| dcterms:Language | |
| lpv:document identification number |
"en.20041116.12.2-136"2
|
| lpv:hasSubsequent | |
| lpv:speaker | |
| lpv:spokenAs | |
| lpv:translated text |
"Mr President, the resolution tabled for adoption by plenary in the European Parliament at the initiative of the Socialist Group comes along at a particularly crucial time for relations between the European Union and Cuba, for the Cuban people and for the future of the country. I would even add for our collective credibility as institutions of the European Union.
Cuba has suffered for many years the unacceptable, unilateral and revengeful policy of isolation and commercial and economic exclusion of the United States, which has pushed the Cuban people into poverty and forced the regime to harden. Unfortunately, this deadlock policy, which is characterised by selective sensitivity to the question of human rights and democratic freedoms, was also applied by the European Union in its decisions to impose sanctions and freeze relations and dialogue. This had a very adverse effect at all levels. The planned objective was not achieved, in that European public opinion itself, non-governmental organisations and business and cultural associations ignored the official policy of the European Union and continued to maintain relations and work with Cuban society.
We need to be honest. The situation in human rights, the rule of law and democratic freedoms in Cuba is not good. However, as international experience has proven, isolation and segregation are not a credible or effective policy. Wherever such a policy has been applied, the people have ultimately paid the price.
The European Union, and the Council of Ministers in particular, should radically rethink its deadlock stand and have the courage to lift sanctions and restore relations with Cuba immediately. It should proceed to establish political dialogue, as a means of advancing relations and as a means of controlling the conduct of the Cuban authorities. It should proceed to open negotiations on the conclusion of a cooperation agreement. Cuba is the only country in Latin America with which the European Union has no such agreement. The European Union should support the funding of programmes in the humanitarian aid and infrastructure sectors. The recent natural disasters have created serious problems for the Cuban people.
Finally, the European Union should take an immediate decision to integrate Cuba into the Cotonou Agreement within the framework of relations with the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries. The Cuban people cannot suffer double punishment, both from the United States and from the European Union. If the fight for the defence of human rights and the building of a democratic society in Cuba is in fact an honest rather than an ostentatious fight, then the European Union should listen to the voice of European public opinion, of our people, and proceed to lift sanctions and develop relations and contacts with Cuba."@en1
|
Named graphs describing this resource:
The resource appears as object in 2 triples