CUBA: Foreign Min. Perez Roque Statement Upon Signing Rights Covenants

[magbana]

After all the crap that the US dumped on Cuba about its human rights record, it is great to see that Cuba created its own path to this point. Perez Roque rightly credits the Cuban Revolution (Government, Constitution) as the sources that affirm the rights of Cubans. He is wise in the last paragraph to reserve the right to register concerns about various elements in the Covenants. If the Cubans have learned one thing it is that never, under any circumstances, trust the US and especially its US-dominated entities at the UN.

Venceremos!


February 28, 2008

We thank you all for your presence. We have invited you to this
conference to inform you that, in fulfillment of the decision
announced by my Government on 10 December 2007, on the occasion of
the commemoration of the International Human Rights Day, I have just
signed, on behalf of the Republic of Cuba, the International Covenant
on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

This signature formalizes and reaffirms Cuba’s commitment with the
rights protected in both Instruments, which my country has been
systematically realizing since the triumph of the Cuban Revolution in
1959.

The act of signing both Covenants responds to a sovereign decision of
the Cuban Government. Cuba has never acted nor will act under
pressure.

This decision has been taken now that the selective and unjust
mandate against Cuba imposed by the brutal pressure and blackmail
carried-out by the United States in the former Human Rights
Commission has been clearly defeated, representing a historic victory
for the Cuban people.

While signing the Covenants, Cuba has presented the following
Statement valid for both of them:

“The Republic of Cuba declares that it was the Revolution the one
that made possible the enjoyment by its people of the rights
protected by the International Covenant on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights.

The economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United
States of America and its policy of hostility and aggression against
Cuba, constitutes the most serious obstacle to the enjoyment by the
Cuban people of the rights protected by the Covenants.

The Constitution of the Republic and the national legislation
enshrine the rights protected in these Covenants.

The policies and programs carried-out by the State guarantee the
effective realization and protection of these rights for all Cubans.

As far as the scope and application of several of the elements
contained in these international instruments, Cuba will register
those reservations or interpretative declarations it considers
relevant.”

Thank you very much.

=========================================
WALTER LIPPMANN
Los Angeles, California
Editor-in-Chief, CubaNews
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CubaNews/
"Cuba - Un Paraíso bajo el bloqueo"
=========================================
__._,_.___

[Judi Lynn]

1. He has been right there with the older leaders for years. Intense, dedicated.

The corporate media has made so much noise throwing their propaganda bits around, with talking points, day in, day out, over the years. You'd have thought there was no one there in government other than Fidel Castro, himself.

Simply amazing how distorted the picture of that country has been through constant warping, twisting, spinnig, and fabricating the information we should have had.



Signing human rights treaties, walking with Mexican Foreign Minister Derbez.





Sitting with Juan Carlos, Zapatero.