CubaMinrex. Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Cuba

Letter from Miguel Angel Martínez, Vice-president of the European Parliament to the members of the European Parliament Delegation for the relations with the United States.

December 2, 2007

Dear colleague,

A few weeks ago, in a meeting of our Group for the Friendship and Solidarity with the People of Cuba that operates in the European Parliament, we welcome two of the relatives of the five Cuban citizens imprisoned in the United States, serving sentences after doubtful trials in which they were accused to have threatened the security of that country. Mrs. Olga Salanueva Arango, spouse of René González, and Mrs. Adriana Pérez Oconor, spouse of Gerardo Hernández, informed us once more about the conditions of the Cuban detainees in the US -Gerardo Hernández, Antonio Guerrero, Ramón Labanino, Fernando González and René González- and above all told us how the US Authorities have repeatedly denied visas to their relatives, making impossible for them to enjoy any kind of visit. These abusive conditions have been acknowledged by the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, and this Working Group has requested the US Government to take measures in order to change this situation (Opinion 19/2005).

We are also aware that five colleagues from the European Parliament have asked for the possibility of visiting the prisoners in order to check their conditions in prison. Their request has also received a negative reply by the US Authorities.

For all the above, I would like to suggest the possibility that the European Parliament Delegation for the relations with the United States, of which you are a member, raises this issue in your contacts with the US Congress, as well as you might recommend some action in order to look for a solution to this matter which means not only a blatant violation of the Human Rights of the prisoners and their relatives, but also a violation of international rules and conventions of humanitarian law, of which the US is also signatory.

I should very much appreciate if you could keep us informed about any action that you may undertake on this issue. Thanking you very much, I remain yours cordially,

Miguel Ángel Martínez

Vice-president of the European Parliament

President of the Group for the Friendship and Solidarity with the People of Cuba

(Cubaminrex-Embacuba Bélgica)

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