Nation Alliance)
2007-06-13.
June 12, 2007.
Heads of States and of Governments of the member nations of the European
Union.
Presidents of the Commission, the Council and the Parliament of the
European Union.
Honorable elected officials and distinguished officers:
Almost half a century of totalitarian dictatorship has immersed the
Cuban nation into a serious political, economic, and social crisis. The
political opposition in and out of Cuba, which works actively to broaden
and consolidate ways by which to enable a transition to democracy; is
not ready to assume roles that will enable it to rapidly press for
changes in the country.
The situation is compounded by the inability of the dictatorship to
apply viable solutions. To complicate matters, there is the stubbornness
of the regime in maintaining a political system based on intolerance and
persecution towards pro-democracy activists and political opponents.
The civil and political organizations that work within the NEW NATION
are conscious of this situation. We consider very important the work
that international organizations, especially the European Union, does in
the search for solutions that will bring the respect for human rights
and independent legal system that the Cuban people seek.
Since 1996, the member countries of the European Union, approved a
"Common Position towards Cuba". Eleven years later, this continues to be
the anvil that marks relations between the 27 member countries and the
communist government. The main objective is to facilitate a transition
towards democracy and respect for human rights, while maintaining a
constructive political dialogue with all members of Cuban society.
The political situation in Cuba continues to be the same, and in some
cases it has deteriorated. The repression against political activists
has increased and government sponsored pogroms against opposition
members occur daily. With this acts, the dictatorship sends a clear
message to the Cuban people and to the democratic world that they will
stop at nothing to maintain the present regime. In the social and
economic realm, there has been no improvement to the standards of living
of the Cuban people. In fact, there have been some reversals.
Even though there are various ways to establish policies towards Cuba
that will bring about a real independent legal system and a "formal
democracy". We consider that the European Union, maintaining its "Common
Position", can activate parallel actions that will enable the start of a
democratic transition and prevent critical situations that may cause a
civilian conflict or a worsening of the repression towards defenders of
human rights.
With the utmost respect and a deep feeling of gratitude for any
assistance you might provide us in achieving our goal of a democratic
Cuba, the undersigned expect from the European Union:
1- To request from the Cuban Government the acknowledgement of the
existence of hundreds of political prisoners in its jails as a condition
to participate in any international forum. We also ask that all dialogue
be conditioned to the unconditional liberation of all political prisoners.
2- To oppose any attempt by the Cuban regime to take a leadership role
in human rights organizations as is the case with the Human Rights
Council of the United Nations.
3- To counter-act the media campaigns that the communist government
carries out related to the so-called "achievements" of the Revolution in
social and cultural rights while ignoring and suppressing
internationally recognized political and civil rights.
4- To condemn the repressive acts of the political police and apply
diplomatic pressure against Cuban officials that organize and/or order
such acts. It is necessary for these officials to know that they need to
distance themselves from such acts and that the direct or indirect
perpetrators will be led to justice.
5- To support in broad terms the development of a civil society and make
sure that it counts with the means to prepare the population for a
transition towards democracy. There is a belief that a transition will
be fast and easy. In reality, it will take far more time and effort to
re-orient the economy to achieve a sustainable development.
6- To foster an environment where the numerous organizations of our
civil society would be able to communicate with their European
counterparts, as well as help our growing political parties to join
international organizations of their own ideologies.
7- To instruct its diplomatic missions in Cuba to allow access to
internet facilities to members of the opposition as well as to regular
citizens wanting to broaden their knowledge of democracy and freedom.
This will help break the blockade that the political police has over the
use of the internet.
For those of us who work for a future of prosperity and happiness for
the Cuban people, it is vital to be able to feel the support from the
countries that make up the European Union. Facing a powerful and
repressive machine, this support, even if symbolic, would tells us that
we are not alone an that we can count on friends ready to walk with us
the long road toward freedom and democracy.
For the New Nation Alliance:
Dr. Eduardo Vidal Franco
Asociación Cubanos por la Libertad
Luís A. Baralt
Asociación Pro-Democracia en Cuba
Lic. Carlos Ríos Otero
Centro de Información sobre Democracia
Carlos Miyares Falcón
Frente Democrático Independiente " Elena Mederos".
Rev. Ariel Arteaga Castellón*
Instituto Juvenil Cristiano de Estudios Sociales
Pedro Moisés Calderín
Movimiento de Derechos Humanos-Municipios de Cuba.
Alfredo M. Cepero
Partido Nacionalista Democrático de Cuba.
Rafael Ernesto Avila Pérez
Partido Popular Joven Cuba
Rev. Padre Ricardo Medina Salabarría
Partido Republicano de Cuba.
Carlos Ríos García
Sindicato Independiente Cambio
Yusniel Osorio Pérez
Unión Lucista.
Calixto Campos Corona
Federación Sindical de Plantas Eléctricas
http://www.miscelaneasdecuba.net/web/article.asp?artID=10462
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