92000E2930

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2930/00

by Marco Cappato (TDI) to the Commission

(19 September 2000)

Subject: Cuban authorities' attempts to keep an Italo-Cuban couple apart and prevent them from emigrating

In 1999, an Italian national, Enrico Orlandini, married a Cuban national, Yaima Prado Gattorno. When the latter applied to the Cuban authorities for a passport with a view to emigrating with her husband, the authorities decided to enforce a sentence for association with a foreigner, which had previously been passed but had until then been suspended. Meanwhile, the husband has been refused all contact with his wife under the threat of a still harsher punishment should he attempt to contact her.

Will the Commission intervene in this specific case and, more generally, will it raise the question of abolishing the offence of association with a foreigner in the context of its relations with the Cuban Government?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(13 October 2000)

The Commission follows closely the human rights situation in the country by participating (through its delegation in Mexico) in the human rights working group in Havana. This group, created upon request of the Council and made up of representatives of the Member States, monitors the human rights situation and meets the Cuban authorities and human rights groups in the island.

The Commission is not aware of the specific situation of the person mentioned by the Honourable Member, but will present this case to the human rights working group at the first opportunity.