CUBAN AMERICAN NATIONAL FOUNDATION DELEGATION TO RECEIVE SAKHAROV AWARD FROM EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT IN REPRESENTATION OF GUILLERMO FARIŅAS
Published: Tuesday, December 14, 2010 By: CANF
For Immediate Distribution December 14th, 2010
For More Information: Daniel Lafuente (305)-592-7768
Cuban American National Foundation Delegation to receive Sakharov Award from European Parliament in representation of Guillermo Fariņas
Strasbourg, France, December 14, 2010. A delegation of the Cuban American National Foundation (CANF) is in Strasbourg, seat of the European Parliament (EP), to attend the presentation ceremony of the 2010 Sakharov Freedom of Conscience Award to be given by the EP to Cuban opposition leader Guillermo Fariņas. The Castro regime has denied Fariņas permission to leave Cuba. As a result, he designated Irma Mas Canosa, widow of the late Cuban patriot Jorge Mas Canosa and founder of the Cuban American National Foundation, to receive the award in his name.
As Mrs. Mas Canosa was not able to make the trip to Strasbourg, the CANF has sent a delegation consisting of Clara Maria Del Valle, Vice-Chairman, Eulalia Garcia-Pedroso, Coordinator of Cuban Opposition Affairs, and Omar Lopez Montenegro, Director for Human Rights. In addition to receiving the prestigious award, the deputation has met with members of the European Parliament regarding the issue of human rights in Cuba.
"It is a great honor to be here representing one of our brethren on the island who has placed his very life at the service of the cause for human rights and democracy in Cuba," stated Clara Maria Del Valle, who will receive the Sakharov Award on behalf of the opposition leader. "Mr. Fariņas embodies like no one else the assertive spirit of the Cuban people in their quest for freedom and democracy and a commitment to the most elevated of sacrifices in the struggle to achieve those noble ideals."
The CANF also carries the acceptance speech written by Guillermo Fariņas, who recently transmitted his message from Cuba to the delegation via telephone for distribution in Strasbourg.
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