Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Centrist Democrat International calls for the release of Cuban prisoner of conscience Eduardo Cardet

The Centrist Democrat International, an international organization of  Christian Democratic political parties demonstrated its solidarity with Cuban prisoner of conscience Eduardo Cardet on February 19, 2018 over twitter. Below the text is reproduced with the tweet at the end of the blog entry.


Resolution on the EU-Cuba Agreement and the release of Eduardo Cardet


The Centrist Democrat International (CDI-IDC )cautiously welcomes the entry into force on November 1st, 2017, of the Agreement on Political Dialogue and Cooperation between Cuba and the European Union, aimed at strengthening the political dialogue, cooperation and sectorial dialogue, including commercial agreements. This agreement should provide the opening of a new page in relations between the EU and Cuba.

Calls on both sides to act with absolute coherence, and assure the effective and practical implementation of this agreement for dialogue. Denounces the interference of Cuba in other countries such as Venezuela and Colombia.

Emphasizes the need for the International Community, civil society and the Cuban people to closely observe the practical realization of these agreements so that they will benefit the Cuban people as soon as possible.

Recalls that this dialogue and previous agreements should always include full respect for human rights, freedom and the rule of law. These principles should be on top of the agenda of the High Representative of the EU for External Relations and Security Policies, Federica Mogherini, given that the pillars of democracy such as freedom of association, a multi-party system, freedom of the press, the existence of political prisoners, freedom of commerce, the separation of power are still not fully respected, and that a dialogue of this type cannot be sustained with countries under dictatorship.

Denounces the fact that in recent years there has been an increase in the number of political prisoners to 140, the 4821 arbitrary detentions (source Amnesty International), acts of physical aggression, of hostility and of repudiation. We demand the immediate and unconditional liberation of the coordinator of the Christian Liberation Movement (MCL) of Cuba and human rights defender, Eduardo Cardet, arbitrarily detained, recognized as political prisoner and sentenced to three years of prison, stressing our preoccupation with his fragile state of health as a result of deplorable penitentiary conditions.

We therefore urge that he be attended urgently by health workers of his free choice.

Requests to support the civil right to return and live in Cuba for the MCL’s spokesman, Regis Iglesias, former political prisoner of conscience and for of all Cuban exiles as well as the recognition of Cuban citizens to elect and be elected, as demanded by the initiative "Un Cubano, Un Voto" (“One Cuban, one vote).

Urges to support the initiatives that civil society and the opposition forces of the country demand towards peaceful transition to a more democratic political regime in Cuba and the recovery of civil rights to guarantee the participation of all Cubans in the construction of a path towards freedom and reconciliation.

Urges all members of the IDC-CDI to deliver the resolution to the Embassies of Cuba of their respective countries urging the release of the prisoners of conscience.

Budapest 16/02/2018



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