MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on prisoners of conscience in Cuba

8.3.2010

to wind up the debate on statements by the Council and Commission
pursuant to Rule 110(2) of the Rules of Procedure

Adrian Severin, Luis Yáñez-Barnuevo García, Emine Bozkurt on behalf of the S&D Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0169/2010

B7‑0174/2010

European Parliament resolution on prisoners of conscience in Cuba

The European Parliament,

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

–   having regard to its earlier resolutions on human rights in the world in 2004, 2005, and 2006 and on EU human rights policy,

–   having regard to its resolution of 14 December 2006 on the follow-up to the Sakharov Prize[1],

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

–   having regard to Council Common Position 96/697/CFSP, adopted on 2 December 1996 and updated many times since,

–   having regard to the conclusions on Cuba issued by the GAERC on 18 June 2007,

–   having regard to the statement by the High Representative, Catherine Ashton, on the death of Mr Zapata in Cuba,

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

A. whereas safeguarding the universal and indivisible character of human rights, including civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights, remains one of the EU’s prime aims,

B.  whereas dozens of independent journalists, peaceful dissidents, and human rights defenders are continuing to be held prisoner,

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

D. whereas the EU Presidency has taken measures in support of Cuban prisoners of conscience,

E.  whereas the death of Orlando Zapata marks a step backward as regards respect for human rights in Cuba,

1.  Deeply regrets the needless and painful death of the Cuban opposition activist Orlando Zapata after a long hunger strike;

2.  Deplores the failure of the Cuban authorities to respond in any meaningful way to the appeals from the international community for the release of all political prisoners;

3.  Calls on the Cuban Government to release prisoners of conscience immediately, unconditionally, and for good;

4.  Regrets that no action has been taken on the call from the Council and Parliament for the immediate release of all political prisoners and prisoners of conscience and maintains that imprisoning dissidents in Cuba on account of their ideals and their non-violent political activities is contrary to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;

5.  Urges the Council and Commission to take further appropriate steps to press for the release of political prisoners and champion and safeguard the work of human rights defenders;

6.  Urges the European institutions to give their unconditional support and unstinting encouragement to the launch of a peaceful process of political transition to multi-party democracy in Cuba;

7.  Expresses its deep-seated solidarity with the Cuban people as a whole and supports them as they move towards democracy and respect for, and the promotion of, fundamental freedoms;

8.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the rotating EU Presidency, the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly, and the Cuban Government.

• [1]  P6_TA(2006)0601.