Mr. President, I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union.
The Candidate Countries Turkey, Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro as well as Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova align themselves with this statement.
Mr. President, The European Union believes that the United States’ trade policy towards Cuba is fundamentally a bilateral issue.
However, American legislation such as the Cuban Democracy Act of 1992 and the Helms-Burton Act of 1996 has extended the effects of the US’ embargo to third-party countries. As a matter of principle the European Union has firmly and continuously opposed such extraterritorial measures.
We welcome the recent decision by the US Government to lift restrictions on remittances and family travel to Cuba, but we cannot accept that unilaterally imposed measures impede our economic and commercial relations with Cuba.
To address this problem the EU’s Council of Ministers adopted, in November 1996, a regulation and a joint action to protect the interests of natural or legal persons residing in Europe against the consequences of these Acts.
At the May 1998 EU-US Summit in London, furthermore, a package was agreed that also sought to alleviate the problems with extraterritorial legislation. It covered waivers to titles III and IV of the Helms-Burton Act, a commitment by the US Government to resist future extraterritorial legislation of that kind, and an understanding regarding disciplines for the strengthening of investment protection.
The European Union reiterates its call on the United States to implement this agreement.
The European Union's policy towards Cuba is clear and was set out in a Common Position in 1996. The objective of the European Union in its relations with Cuba is to encourage a peaceful process of transition, led by the Cuban people, to a pluralist democracy and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as a sustainable economic recovery and an improvement in the living standards of the Cuban people.Reaffirming the validity of this Common Position, the European Union in June 2008 lifted the political measures imposed on Cuba in 2003. The dialogue with the authorities in Havana was resumed without preconditions, and from the basis of reciprocity and non-discrimination.
Ministerial sessions were held with the Cuban Government in Paris in October 2008 and in Brussels in May 2009. The dialogue addressed issues of common interest, including human rights, an area in which the EU expects concrete actions from Havana. Additionally, the European Union intends to continue its dialogue with the democratic opposition and civil society on Cuba.While having signed them, Cuba has not yet ratified the UN Covenant for Civil and Political Rights or the Covenant for Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights. Havana has undertaken to invite the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food, and mentioned the possibility of visits from other rapporteurs.
The Cuban Government continues to deny its citizens internationally recognized civil, political and economic rights and freedoms. The EU remains seriously concerned at the continuation of human rights violations in Cuba despite a decrease in the number of political prisoners.
The European Union once again urges the Cuban Government to release unconditionally all political prisoners, and particularly expresses utmost concern with the deteriorating health of several of them and of members of the Group of 75 that were detained in March 2003. The EU also reiterates its call on the Cuban Government to grant freedom of expression and free access to information.
These restrictions on rights and freedoms undermine the Cuban achievements in healthcare and education. Similarly, domestic Cuban economic policy seriously hampers its own economic development. The economic, commercial, and financial embargo imposed by the United States contribute to these problems, negatively affecting the living standards of the Cuban people.The European Union clearly believes, therefore, that the lifting of the US embargo would open the Cuban economy to the benefit of the Cuban people. We again express our rejection of all unilateral measures directed against Cuba that are contrary to commonly accepted rules of international trade.
With regard to Cuba, the European Union urges the Cuban authorities to bring about real improvements in all areas mentioned.
For all those reasons and in spite of serious criticism on Cuba’s human rights record, the European Union unanimously voted in favour of the draft resolution (A/64/L.4).
Thank you, Mr. President.