The European Parliament,

–   having regard to its previous resolutions on Cuba, and in particular those of 17 November 2004, 2 February 2006 and 21 June 2007,

–   having regard to its previous resolutions on the Annual Reports on Human Rights in the World for 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008, and to the EU’s policy in the field of human rights,

–   having regard to its resolution of 14 December 2006 on the follow‑up to the Sakharov Prize(1),

–   having regard to the declaration of the Council Presidency of 14 December 2005 on the Damas de Blanco and to its earlier declarations of 26 March 2003 and 5 June 2003 on the situation in Cuba,

–   having regard to Council Common Position 96/697/CFSP on Cuba, which was adopted on 2 December 1996 and periodically updated,

–   having regard to the conclusions of the General Affairs and External Relations Council of 18 June 2007, June 2008 and 15 June 2009, on Cuba,

–   having regard to Rule 110(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

–   having regard to the statement by the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Commission Vice-President, Baroness Catherine Ashton, on the death in Cuba of the political prisoner and prisoner of conscience, Mr Orlando Zapata,

A. whereas protecting the universality and indivisibility of human rights, including civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, remains one of the European Union’s main objectives,

B.  whereas dozens of independent journalists, peaceful dissidents and human rights defenders are still being held in jail, serving long sentences, and some of them are seriously ill,

C. whereas Parliament awarded the 2005 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to the Damas de Blanco; whereas the refusal of the Cuban authorities to allow the Damas de Blanco to travel to the seat of the European Parliament to receive their award violates one of the basic human rights, namely the right freely to leave and return to one’s own country, as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,

D. whereas the Community Institutions have made efforts to secure the release and humanitarian treatment of political prisoners and prisoners of conscience in Cuba,

E.  whereas the death of Orlando Zapata is a matter of extreme gravity, and a major step backwards in the quest for respect for human rights in Cuba,

F.  whereas Zapata’s death has unleashed a wave of protests at international level, and has led to other Cuban political prisoners and dissidents likewise going on hunger strike,

1.  Condemns utterly and unconditionally the cruel death of the peaceful Cuban opposition member and dissident Orlando Zapata Tamayo, following a long hunger strike of 85 days, the outcome of which was perfectly avoidable, and has been described by Zapata’s mother, Mrs Reina Lucía Tamayo, as a premeditated crime on the part of the state;

2.  Rejects absolutely the Cuban regime’s lack of humanity and sensitivity with regard to the holding of the funeral and to respect for the family, and in the matter of the pressure and arbitrary pre-emptive arrests used to prevent family members, close relatives and friends from paying their last respects to the deceased dissident;

3.  Deplores the absence of any significant gesture on the part of the Cuban authorities in response to the calls by the EU and the rest of the international community for the release of all political prisoners and full respect for fundamental rights and freedoms, especially freedom of expression and political association;

4.  Voices its deep concern for the situation of the Cuban political prisoners and dissidents who have declared themselves to be on hunger strike following Zapata’s death, particularly the journalist and psychologist Guillermo Fariñas, whose state of health is alarming in the extreme;

5.  Demands that the Cuban Government immediately release, absolutely and unconditionally, all political prisoners and prisoners of conscience;

6.  Regrets the failure to respond to the call of the Council and Parliament for the immediate release of all political prisoners and prisoners of conscience, and insists that imprisoning Cuban dissidents for their ideals and their peaceful political activity is contrary to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;

7.  Urges the Council and Commission to continue to take whatever action is necessary in order to demand the release of political prisoners and promote and provide guarantees for the work of human rights defenders;

8.  Urges the EU institutions to give their unconditional support and full encouragement to launching a peaceful process of political transition to a multi-party democracy in Cuba, in line with Council Common Position 96/697/CFSP;

9.  Voices its profound solidarity with the entire Cuban people, and its support for them in their progress towards democracy and respect and encouragement of fundamental freedoms;

10. Calls on the High Representative for Foreign Policy, and the Commissioner responsible for cooperation to begin, with immediate effect, a structured dialogue with Cuban civil society and with those who support a peaceful transition in Cuba, in keeping with the conclusions successively adopted by the Council of the EU, using the Community’s development cooperation mechanisms, and in particular the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights;

11. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Presidency‑in‑Office of the EU, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Commission Vice‑President, the Euro‑Latin American Parliamentary Assembly and the Cuban Government and Cuban National Assembly of People’s Power.

(1) OJ C 317E , 23.12.2006, p. 871–872