Written Answers. - Cuban Embargo.
Brendan Howlin
Ceist:
53
Mr. Howlin
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
the action he envisages Ireland and the European Union taking in view of the recent United Nations historically high vote condemning the US blockade of Cuba; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[26707/03]
Thomas P. Broughan
Ceist:
95
Mr. Broughan
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
if he has been contacted by the Cuban Government or its representatives on the perceived escalation in the US offensive directed against that country; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[26697/03]
Olwyn Enright
Ceist:
98
Ms Enright
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
if he will make a statement on the UN General Assembly vote on 4 November 2003 on the Resolution calling for the end of the US blockage against Cuba.
[26831/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 53, 95 and 98 together.
On 4 November 2003, the UN General Assembly voted on a draft resolution proposed by Cuba regarding the necessity of ending of the US economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed against that country. This is the twelfth consecutive year in which the resolution has been proposed and the outcome has been the same each time, namely, a clear endorsement of the Cuban resolution, although the precise voting figures have varied somewhat from year to year. On this occasion, the resolution was supported by 179 countries, with just three voting against and two abstaining, as compared with last year's result of 173 in favour, three against and four abstentions.
The Government's position on the embargo has been made quite clear over the years by our consistent vote against it in the UN General Assembly, together with our EU partners. While we welcomed the partial easing of the embargo in 2000, whereby the ban on the sale of food and medicines was lifted, we continue to urge the complete removal of the embargo. It is our belief that the effect of the embargo is to work contrary to stated EU and US aspirations for a democratic and prosperous Cuba.
Regrettably, the US administration announced a number of new measures on 10 October 2003 which appear to tend in the opposite direction, including a tightening of travel restrictions to Cuba by US citizens. The Cuban Government's concern at these measures has been conveyed by the Cuban Chargé d'Affaires in Dublin.
On the other hand, the encouraging indications are that influential opinion in the US Congress is moving strongly towards the liberalisation of travel, with a clear vote in this sense last week by the US Senate's foreign relations committee.
Overall EU policy on Cuba continues to be defined by the Common Position which was first adopted in 1996. The Common Position aims to encourage a process of transition to pluralist democracy and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, a lasting economic recovery and an improvement in living standards of the Cuban people.
Regrettably, it has to be acknowledged that this year has seen a serious setback for the cause of human rights in Cuba, as manifested in particular by the summary trial and lengthy prison sentences imposed on 75 dissidents for exercising their right to freedom of speech, as well as the summary trial and rapid execution of three ferry-boat hijackers in breach of international minimum standards for the implementation of the death penalty. When these human rights violations occurred earlier this year, officials of my Department conveyed to the Cuban Chargé d'Affaires the very serious view taken by the Government.
At EU level, the human rights abuses caused the Union to introduce a number of diplomatic measures, including a limitation on bilateral high-level Governmental visits; a reduction in participation in cultural events; the inviting of Cuban dissidents to national day events at EU embassies in Havana; and the decision to proceed to an early re-evaluation of the EU Common Position, which had not been due to take place until December 2003.
As a result of this re-evaluation, on 21 July 2003, the General Affairs and External Relations Council, GAERC, confirmed the objectives of the Common Position as I have stated them at the outset. They also reaffirmed the validity of the Common Position's constructive engagement with Cuba as the basis of EU policy towards that country. This engagement will continue to be pursued through political dialogue aimed at producing tangible results in the political, economic and civil rights spheres, as well as by means of development co-operation that will seek,inter alia, to improve the living standards of the Cuban people.
Notwithstanding this year's setbacks in the field of human rights, the Irish and EU commitment to a policy of constructive engagement with Cuba remains undiminished. Ireland and our EU partners will continue to pursue the objectives of the Common Position with a view ultimately to seeing the initiation of a transition to a system of pluralist democracy embracing human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Question No. 54 answered with Question No. 45
