17 April 2003
White House Welcomes U.N. Resolution on Human Rights in Cuba
(U.N. Commission on Human Rights approves resolution in Geneva) (490)
The White House welcomed approval April 17 by the U.N. Commission on
Human Rights meeting in Geneva of a resolution calling on Cuba to
accept a visit by a human rights investigator.
Cuba has refused such visits in the past.
A statement by the Deputy White House Press Secretary said the
Commission has sent the right signal to Cubans struggling for freedom
and added that the United States remains gravely concerned about the
fate of the Cuban citizens imprisoned for seeking an end to 44 years
of repression.
The Human Rights Commission voted to reject an amendment expressing
deep concern over Cuba's crackdown on dissidents and calling for their
immediate release from jail.
The Bush Administration joins the United Nations, the U.S. Congress,
the European Union, Amnesty International and others in condemning
Cuba's callous disregard for human rights, the White House said. "We
also call upon the member states of the United Nations to deny Cuba a
seat on the Human Rights Commission next year," the White House said.
"No country should be allowed to sit on the Human Rights Commission if
it purposely and consistently undermines the spirit and purpose of the
Commission."
Following is the text of the White House statement:
(begin text)
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
(Crawford, Texas)
STATEMENT BY THE DEPUTY PRESS SECRETARY
United Nations Sanctions Cuba for Human Rights Violations
The United Nations Commission on Human Rights has once again voted to
express its concern about the appalling human rights violations by the
Cuban Government against its own people. The Commission also defeated
a Cuban attempt to criticize the U.S. efforts to support human rights
in Cuba. President Bush welcomes the leadership of the Latin America
democracies in highlighting these abuses by the only dictatorship of
the region. The Commission has sent the right signal to courageous
Cubans who struggle daily to gain their basic political and civil
freedoms. We remain gravely concerned about the fate of scores of
Cuban citizens who have been unfairly arrested, tried and sentenced
for the crimes of speaking their minds, holding discussions, and
seeking an alternative to 44 years of repression and fear.
We will work with friends and allies to find new ways to effect a
peaceful democratic transition in Cuba. We join the United States
Congress, the European Union, the United Nations, Amnesty
International, the Committee to Protect Journalists, Human Rights
Watch, and others around the world in condemning the Castro regime for
its callous disregard for due process and basic human rights. We also
call upon the member states of the United Nations to deny Cuba a seat
on the Human Rights Commission next year. No country should be allowed
to sit on the Human Rights Commission if it purposely and consistently
undermines the spirit and purpose of the Commission.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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