The communist Castro dictatorship was dealt a serious diplomatic blow on Thursday when the European Parliament overwhelmingly voted in favor of condemning the regime for its human rights abuses.
Via Diario de Cuba (my translation):
The European Parliament approves a strong resolution condemning the Cuban regime
By a wide margin of 426 votes in favor and 146 against, the European Parliament on Thursday approved a strong resolution condemning the Cuban regime for the repression it carried out against citizens protesting on July 11 in more than 50 cities and towns all over the island.
The vote took place after a debate divided into those who reject dialogue between the EU and Havana and those who consider it fundamental in influencing events on the island and blame the crisis on the U.S. embargo.
The language approved demands individual sanctions against those who have violated human rights in Cuba through the EU’s Magnitsky Act as well as the EU using urgency to address these issues.
“Cubans want change, they want a better life, a Cuba that is democratic and free. They have the right to peacefully protest, but instead of protecting the people, the regime has attacked, arrested, and abused them. Europe has to be on the side of the Cuban people, but the response from the High Representative continues to be the same one as always, just declarations,” said EU Parliament vice present Dita Charanzova during the debate that morning.
“I want to ask the High Representative and I expect a concrete answer: What has to happen for you to recognize that Cuba is not complying with the agreement? What do you consider an infraction of the elements of the agreement? What has to happen for you to agree sanctions must be placed on those violating human rights?” she asked.
“The list of abuses by the regime grows longer each day and along with that the degree of distrust in the agreement between the EU and Cuba.,” which among other members of the EU Parliament, members such as Leopoldo Lopez Gil, Soraya Rodriguez, and Jose Ramon Bauza agreed.
Continue reading (in Spanish) HERE.