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Global dissident support group created
By Pablo Alfonso

El Nuevo Herald

Ambassadors and diplomatic representatives of former communist Eastern European countries met yesterday in Washington to launch a new joint initiative backing the Cuban internal opposition, in a time of growing repression on the island.

“The formation of a group of countries belonging to Eastern and Central Europe supporting freedom in Cuba is of great importance. They, especially, understand the horrors of totalitarianism and know that freedom in Cuba is inevitable,” affirmed Florida representative Lincoln Díaz-Balart.

Cuban opposition leader, Martha Beatriz Roque, said in a telephone interview from Havana that “this was a gathering of monumental importance for the Cuban opposition.”

“For all of the opposition, because this support group will pursue issues ranging from demanding freedom for political prisoners to facilitating access to the Internet',' added Roque

The offices of a Center for a Free Cuba (CFC), served as the stage for the meeting of representatives of Cuban exile groups with the diplomats, which also held a teleconference with opposition leaders in Havana.

“Upon the request of representatives Lincoln y Mario Díaz-Balart, the initiative of ambassadors took place here and could not have come at a better time, taking into consideration the increment of repression and need of the opposition in the island of solidarity “ explained Frank Calzón, executive director of the CFC.

Present in the assembly of ambassadors was Andras Simonyi, of Hungary; Petr Kolar, of the Czech Republic; Vygandas Usackas of Lithuania; Ratislav Kacer of Slovakia and officials from the embassies of Poland and Slovenia. Also in attendance were Cuba Transition Coordinator, Caleb Mc Carry, and Joaquin Ferrao of the Office of Paula Dobriansky, Undersecretary of Democracy and Global Affairs of the Department of State.

On behalf of Cuban exile organizations, in attendance were: Orlando Gutérrez of the Cuban Democratic Directorate; Sylvia Iriondo of Mothers Against Repression (MAR) for Cuba; Angel de Fana of Plantados hasta la Libertad y la Democracia; Mauricio Claver Carone of Defensores de Cuba Libertad and Frank Calzón of the CFC.

“This is a coalition of nations that will play an important role in favor of the democratization of Cuba,” affirmed Iriondo.

According to a press release issued by the Assembly to Promote Civil Society in Cuba, dated in Havana, the teleconference with the diplomats and those gathered in Washington took place though the offices of the United States Interest Section in Havana and lasted more than an hour; in said conference Roque joined Néstor Rodríguez Lobaina , Michael Parmly chief of the office and other officials in participation.

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