Lithuania refuses to ratify European Union’s deal with Cuba’s Castro dictatorship

Not all members of the EU are willing to turn a blind eye to the human rights abuses and crimes against humanity committed by the communist Castro dictatorship. Thank you, Lithuania.

Via the Center for a FREE Cuba:

Lithuanian parliament refuses to ratify EU-Cuba deal. Seven Members of Congress send letter to European Union urging them to stand in unequivocal solidarity with the Cuban people

Two key developments on European front with regards to Cuba policy became public yesterday.

First, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, U.S. Senator Rick Scott, Congressman Mario Diaz Balart, Congressman Albio Sires, Congressman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Congressman Alex X. Mooney, and Congressman Carlos A. Jimenez wrote to the European Union (EU) on June 30, 2021 “to urge the European Union (EU) to stand in unequivocal solidarity with the Cuban people and to refuse to expand trade or diplomatic relations with the oppressive Cuban regime until basic freedoms and human rights are recognized. Specifically, we request that you demand the immediate release of all political prisoners, the legalization of free expression, independent media, political parties, and labor unions, and the scheduling of free, fair, multiparty elections for the long-oppressed people of Cuba.”

Second, in Vilnius, the Lithuanian parliament, Seimas, passed a resolution on June 30, 2021 with 82 votes in favour and 17 abstentions resolving “that the Government of the Republic of Cuba may not be encouraged to keep pursuing its current path by remaining quiet on these ongoing realities, and that it is not policy-wise to ratify the political dialogue and cooperation agreement between the European Union and Cuba and to create favourable conditions for the Government of the Republic of Cuba to allow the regime of the Republic of Cuba to continue implementing its dangerous regional strategy and to strengthen the oppression of the people of the Republic of Cuba.”

The document also declared “in strong and unequivocal terms, that the regime of the Republic of Cuba and its relations with the Russian Federation, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, and the Islamic Republic of Iran as well as the regime’s support for terrorist organisations funded by drug trafficking, such as the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and Colombia’s guerilla group National Liberation Army (ELN), are a threat to the neighboring states and societies of Latin America.”

On June 10, 2021 the European Parliament (EP) passed a resolution on the human rights and political situation in Cuba (2021/2745(RSP)) with 386 voting for the resolution, 236 against the resolution, and 59 abstaining that not only condemned the human rights and political conditions in Cuba, but voiced its displeasure with the “current EU Ambassador in Havana [who] has publicly made statements affirming that ‘Cuba is not a dictatorship.’”

Lithuania remains the only EU member state not to have ratified the political dialogue and cooperation agreement between the European Union and Cuba (PDCA).

Continue reading HERE.

2 thoughts on “Lithuania refuses to ratify European Union’s deal with Cuba’s Castro dictatorship”

  1. What does Lithuania owe Cuba? Practically nothing. What does it have to gain from this? Practically nothing, and this may make its position in the EU more uncomfortable and complicated, with associated difficulties. Why would Lithuania bother, then, when it is under no pressure to do so, but quite the opposite?

    Because, apparently not every country in the EU is conveniently “pragmatic,” indifferent, or downright complicit with the Castro evil–unlike our puta madre, the abominable Spain, which is all of those things.

    This gesture is such an anomaly that it seems almost bizarre, which is obviously not Lithuania’s fault. We are so used to getting the shaft that we expect it, and it feels strange if we don’t. Lord have mercy.

  2. As noted in this post, Lithuania’s parliament, known as Seimas, passed a substantial resolution this June 30 in support of human rights for the people in Cuba. The text (in Spanish) is below and well worth reading:

    http://baracuteycubano.blogspot.com/2021/07/30-junio-2021-texto-integro-de-la.html

    In a way, such an official statement is shocking, because practically no Western democratic government will make such a declaration publicly. The Lithuanians, of course, know perfectly well what communism is about and how it works, but still, this kind of support is so out of the ordinary that it feels vaguely unreal. Again, that is not Lithuania’s fault, but it is definitely the fault of the likes of Spain and the Latrines, among others.

    Seriously, Cubans should start going to Vilnius on vacation instead of Madrid.

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