EU Deputies Urge Elimination of Common Position vs. Cuba

Strasbourg, France, Feb 27. – European deputies of the Confederal Group of the European United Left/Nordic Green Left demanded the elimination of the so-called Common Position of the European Union (EU) against Cuba, in force since 1996.

The European Parliament's rejection of this unilateral and interfering policy was expressed during a meeting held in Strasbourg with Mirtha Hormilla, Cuban ambassador to Belgium and head of the mission at the EU.

Legislators also demanded the lifting of the five-decades-old U.S.-imposed blockade on Cuba, and asked Washington to release five Cuban antiterrorist fighters unjustly held in U.S. prisons.

Fernando Gonzalez, Antonio Guerrero, Ramon Labañino, Gerardo Hernandez and Rene Gonzalez were sentenced to lengthy prison terms running from 15 years to double life imprisonment, for monitoring actions by Florida-based anti-Cuba violent groups.

On behalf of the Confederal Group, its president, Lothar Bisky, expressed solidarity with Cuba, and wished its authorities success in the update of the country's economic model.

The ambassador talked with the legislators on the results of the 1st National Conference of the Communist Party of Cuba on January 28, as well as the 6th Congress of the organization in April 2011.

Hormilla also discussed the importance of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, created in December in Caracas.

European deputies from Germany, Spain, Portugal, Greece and other countries were interested in the island's current situation, and expressed support for the Cuban Revolution.(Prensa Latina)