WRITTEN QUESTION P-0226/00 by José Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra (PPE-DE) to the Council. Arrest of moderate dissidents in Cuba.
Date: 2000-01-28
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Cuba, EU relations, diplomatic relations, government violence, human rights, political prisoner

21.11.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 330 E/107

Answer given by Mrs Wallstr(cid:246)m on behalf of the Commission

(7 March 2000)

The Commission assumes that the new evidence cited by the Honourable Member consists of a hydro-
geological report which she submitted to the Commission on 21 January 2000. This concerns the possible
effects on groundwater and ash-hazel woodland of
the road drainage system. The
Commission has forwarded this to the Irish authorities for comments, and proposes to defer comment
until the Irish authorities have responded.

the design of

The Commission does not have the power to put a stay on road works. It has no current plans to start
legal proceedings in relation to the project or to withdraw funding.

(2000/C 330 E/119)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0226/00

by JosØ Salafranca SÆnchez-Neyra (PPE-DE) to the Council

Subject: Arrest of moderate dissidents in Cuba

(28 January 2000)

Osvaldo Paya Sardiæas and HØctor Palacios, two moderate dissidents, were recently arrested in Cuba, and
taken away to an unknown destination. According to the Cuban Commission for Human Rights and
National Reconciliation, more than 300 dissidents and human rights activists have been arrested
since November 1999.

Is the Council aware of these circumstances?

What is its position on these arrests?

Does it intend to take any action on the matter?

Reply

(2 May 2000)

As the Honourable Member will be aware, the Council pays close attention to the situation of human
rights in Cuba in general and the situation of dissidents in particular.

On the specific question of the arrest of Mr Osvaldo Paya Sardiæas of the (cid:145)Movimiento Cristiano de
Liberaci(cid:243)n(cid:146) and HØctor Palacios, founder member of the (cid:145)Partido de Solidaridad DemocrÆtica(cid:146), who were
detained on 25 January, the Council was kept informed of their situation and was pleased to hear that they
had been released the day after their arrest.

In the field of human rights, the EU has always made its position clear whenever necessary through both
public declarations and representations to the Cuban authorities. Moreover, the EU missions in Havana
consult one another regularly on human rights issues and maintain a useful dialogue with Cuban dissidents
and other groups of Cuban society. In March 1999 the Council issued a statement expressing the EU(cid:146)s
regrets concerning the outcome of the trial of four members of the (cid:145)Internal Dissidence Working Group(cid:146)
and repeating its calls for the prompt release of the four.

The EU(cid:146)s objective with regard to Cuba, as stated in the Common Position on Cuba adopted by the
Council on 2 December 1996, continues to be to encourage a process of transition towards a pluralistic
democracy and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as sustainable economic
recovery and improved living standards for the Cuban people. The EU considers that result-oriented
dialogue and humanitarian aid are the best instruments for attaining that objective.

When carrying out its sixth evaluation of the Common Position in November 1999, the Council concluded
that there had been no changes in the situation in Cuba that would justify a change in the EU(cid:146)s approach.

The Council will continue to raise these and other issues relating to human rights with the Cuban
authorities at every opportunity.