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Buzek: Denied access for MEP to Cuba is a big mistake

Brussels -
Tuesday, January 5, 2010

The President of the European Parliament, Jerzy Buzek, after receiving the worrying information that a Spanish member of the European Parliament, Luis Yáñez Barnuevo (PSE, ES) was denied entry into Cuba on Monday by the authorities, said:

"This is not the first time in recent memory that a Member of the European Parliament has been denied entry into Cuba. Like in previous cases as in this one, the European Parliament considers the action of the Cuban authorities to be a big mistake and an uncooperative attitude towards the elected representatives of the European citizens. I condemn it in the strongest possible way. We will demand explanation from the Cuban authorities on this incident. This does not help build a good climate of relations and trust between the European Union and Cuba. Particularly now, that the new Spanish Presidency considers these relations among its priorities. Regrettably the authorities in Havana have not drawn the right conclusions from the lifting of diplomatic sanctions by the European Union in 2008.

The European Parliament is a champion of human rights around the world. In 2005, we have awarded our human rights award, the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, to the Cuban protest movement "Damas de blanco". Disappointingly until today they have been prohibited by the Cuban authorities to travel to Strasbourg to collect the prize. This as well as the recent incident make me pessimistic about the direction in which our relations will evolve in the coming future".

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For further information:
Robert A. Golański, Deputy Spokesman
Mobile: +32 475 751 663