EUROPEAN UNION’S SAKHAROV AWARD TO CUBAN DISSIDENT GUILLERMO FARIÑAS

October 21st, 2010                        For Immediate Release

FOR MORE INFORMATION:    
DANIEL LAFUENTE (305) 592-7768
LALY SAMPEDRO       (305)-592-7768


EUROPEAN UNION’S SAKHAROV AWARD
TO CUBAN DISSIDENT GUILLERMO FARIÑAS

The Cuban American National Foundation, on behalf of the exile community and the Cuban people, would like to express its most joyous and profound gratitude to the European Parliament for honoring Guillermo Fariñas with the Sakharov Award, intended to pay tribute to exceptional individuals who combat intolerance, fanaticism and oppression.

This award brings great pride, not only as a means of recognizing the work of the internal opposition in Cuba, but also because it speaks volumes to the courage, integrity, and absolute devotion of Mr. Fariñas to the cause of democracy and the inherent rights of the Cuban people. Mr. Fariñas exemplifies the award’s meaning in his personal suffering and sacrifice, in his willingness to continue to struggle for human rights, and in the growing strength of Cuba's internal opposition to Castro's dictatorship.

Clearly times are changing, as can be seen by three recent events: the replacement of Spain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Miguel Ángel Moratinos, who on many occasions refused to meet with the Cuban opposition and expressed his preference for the Castro regime; President Obama’s recent assertion that there will be no change in US-Cuba policy until there are permanent and significant reforms within Cuba; and now this award from the European Parliament honoring the internal opposition on the eve of discussions about the European Common Position on Cuba. These events manifestly indicate that the Castro regime now faces a global consensus that demands reforms leading to freedom, democracy, and respect for the rights of the Cuban people.

We heartily welcome this new global attitude and extend our sincere congratulations to Mr. Fariñas and to all those in the internal opposition inside Cuba who continue the struggle for human rights.