Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2002-12-17-Speech-2-268"
| Predicate | Value (sorted: default) |
|---|---|
| rdf:type | |
| dcterms:Date | |
| dcterms:Is Part Of | |
| dcterms:Language | |
| lpv:document identification number |
"en.20021217.14.2-268"2
|
| lpv:hasSubsequent | |
| lpv:speaker | |
| lpv:spokenAs | |
| lpv:translated text |
"Mr Oswaldo Payá, allow me to express the emotion with which we welcome you today to award you the Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought.
Throughout the years, the European Parliament has taken the lead in keeping human rights high on the policy agenda.
This is not, on our part, an abstract commitment; it was forged in the tragic experiences of Europe's barbaric twentieth century. It has been used over the last 50 years to construct a vision of Europe that has learned from, but not forgotten, its past.
We are committed to the principles of democracy and respect for the universality and indivisibility of human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law. The Sakharov Prize celebrates that commitment annually.
The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought for 2002 is awarded to Oswaldo Payá, as a tribute to his commitment to freedom of thought, democracy and reconciliation of the Cuban people.
We salute Oswaldo Payá's decision to use the pen and not the sword, to use signatures and not bullets, to use peace and not terror, as the pathway to democracy in Cuba.
Mr Payá, to you, and through you to those who support the Varela project, we say today: 'We walk with you on your journey. You do not walk alone. You do not work in isolation.'
On your first ever visit anywhere outside Cuba, through you, Oswaldo Payá, the European Parliament honours all those who defend human rights, and their hard work and your hard work in building democracy from the grassroots level, step by step, person by person, day by day.
It has been difficult to obtain your leave and re-entry visa for coming to Strasbourg. I would like to thank all those who have worked to make it possible, including Members of the European Parliament who raised the matter with the Cuban authorities last week while there.
I asked the President of the Government of Cuba, Mr Fidel Castro, to let you come to this ceremony as a signal from the Cuban authorities of their recognition of the human rights agenda. I am happy that this signal has been given to the European Parliament.
My dear Mr Payá, you represent for many Cubans today what Andrei Sakharov represented in the 1980s for many Soviet citizens: you represent hope.
Harassed, pursued, persecuted, prosecuted, condemned and imprisoned from your youth for your opinions, which were openly critical of the government’s official policies, you nevertheless continue to work on constructing your movement, the Christian Liberation Movement for Peace.
You advocate national dialogue to enable democratic change in Cuba. You are working tirelessly to create an alternative, non-violent democratic movement, based on a wide coalition. Using the existing legal and political framework, you want to introduce reforms in order to initiate a process of transition to pluralist democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Under your direction, the civil initiative 'the Varela project' was born. This initiative calls for a referendum on open elections, freedom of speech, freedom for political prisoners and free enterprise. To date, the project has attracted support from more than 100 organisations in Cuba and tens of thousands of individual signatures.
Together with other opposition leaders, you drafted the manifesto 'Todos Unidos' and for the first time, thanks to your action, the opposition has united together on a single initiative: the Varela project.
We recognise your endurance in the face of a barrage of obstacles. We recognise your personal courage. Your plan is not a theoretical construction; it does not promise heaven on earth but reminds people of basic principles for which so many have fought for so long: respect for human rights and fundamental democratic principles."@en1
|
| lpv:unclassifiedMetadata |
Named graphs describing this resource:
The resource appears as object in 2 triples