Resolution:  Cuba: call for a peacful regime change
The Congress of the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party in Berlin on 18-19 October 2007,
-          having regard to the concerns and distress expressed by ELDR for several years about a lack of democracy in Cuba under the communist regime;
-          having regard to the resolution of the Liberal International on Cuba adopted in Marrakesh in November 2006;
-          having regard to the recent visit of three members of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly in Cuba, organised by Mr Matyas Eorsi, leader of the ALDE Group in PACE;
-          whereas the situation for human rights in Cuba has deteriorated since the last Congress of ELDR;
-          whereas according to the Cuban Commissioner for Human Rights and National Reconciliation an additional 47 dissidents have been sent to prison between July 2005 and July 2006;
-          takes note with satisfaction of the recent release of Francisco Chaviano Gonzales and Lazaro Gonzalez Adan, two of the most important non-violent dissidents, by Cuban authorities, though 244 political prisoners still remain in Cuban prisons;
-          whereas the Cuban authorities have aggravated the harassment of non-violent members of the opposition, especially through the so-called Acts of Repudiation that are being organised regularly outside their homes, and which include the use of physical violence;
-          whereas prominent Cuban Liberals such as Héctor Maseda Gutiérrez, president of Partido Liberal de Cuba, and Adolfo Fernández Sainz, secretary of international relations, of Partido Solidaridad Democrática, are still in prison since the spring of 2003;
-          whereas Cuba is a Member of the United Nation Human Rights Council;

1. Is convinced that political changes in Cuba will come given the wish of the Cuban people to fight for the democratisation of the country;
2. welcomes the agreement recently reached by Cuban opposition's groups under the document "Unitad por la Libertad";
3. Trusts that liberal forces in Cuba will take a leading role in this very hard but challenging and rewarding process;
4. Condemns the systematic crackdown by the Cuban regime on individual freedom, in particular against dissidents, journalists, cyber activists, independent trade unionists and human rights defenders;
5. urges the Cuban authorities immediately to allow the Damas de Blanco, a group including relatives of the 74 dissidents arrested in 2004, to leave the island so that they can accept the invitation of the European Parliament to receive the Sakharov Prize;
6. Considers that the free world should be prepared to assist with the democratisation process as much as possible for the sake of the political change;
7. Believes that all democratic countries with the strong involvement of the European Union, in alliance with the Americas, should provide support to assist with Cuban democratisation not only to make it swift and successful but also as painless as possible for Cuban citizens;
8. Urges the European Union to review and renew its policy towards Cuba, engaging in a direct dialogue with home-grown non-violent Cuban individuals, opposition movements and parties;
9. Calls on the European Union to anchor its policy towards Cuba to the Cuban democratic opposition and civic movements inside and outside the island, offering it more legitimacy for its democratising efforts;
10. Is aware of the enormous challenges in building a market economy, restoring human rights, civil liberties, freedom of speech, multi-party democracy, and checks and balances in power, including an independent judiciary: these being the core values of democracy, which Cubans have been deprived of for decades;
11. Proposes that the experiences of the transition in Central and Eastern Europe after the fall of the Berlin Wall be examined and adapted to work for Cuban democratisation;
12. Calls on the Human Rights Council of the United Nations, of which Cuba to draw attention to the abuses of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Cuba, and reconsider the appropriateness of Cuba being a member of such an honourable institution;
13. Urges its member Parties to actively support the struggle for freedom of every Cuban and in particular of Liberal activists and to establish regular contacts with Cuban Liberal Parties in order to facilitate their activities both in the island and abroad.