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Czech... and Slovak Way
By Carlos Gonzalez
Abstract
One would not exaggerate when claiming that the Czech Republic is one of the first countries which have understood the necessity of moral support to achieve democratic change. After the fall of Berlin Wall, the human rights issue became a fundamental pillar Czech foreign policy is built on. Countries such as Belarus, North Korea, Myanmar, as well as Cuba were considered a top priority for the then President Václav Havel. Therefore the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic initiated adoption of resolutions in the UN Commission on Human Rights against injustice taking place under the regime of Fidel Castro; supported radio broadcasting promoting transition etc. Moreover, in September 2004, summits of the International Committee for Democracy in Cuba (Comité Internacional para la democracia en Cuba) were held in Prague and Bratislava under the name - "Cuba on its Path towards Democracy". The main goal of the Prague Summit was to interlink democratic world with the issue of freedom in Cuba. As a result, so-called Prague Memorandum was adopted. In Bratislava, the conference was organised under the auspices of Chairman of the National Council of the Slovak Republic Pavol Hrušovský. Ján FigeĽ, member of the European Commission as well as a member of the International Committee for Democracy in Cuba called for the common strict approach of the EU towards this issue. Also the State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, József Berényi, expressed the will of Slovakia to cooperate with Cuban opposition.
Before the Prague Summit of CIDC, the common position of international community had not existed. In Prague the so-called "Czech way" was determined posing the significant challenge for the current government of Cuba. Why? First of all, it is an international movement. Secondly, the main reference of this world-wide movement is a civil movement within Cuba. Finally, it is a non-violent movement overreaching the Castro's traditional mechanisms of aggression and confrontation.
How did Castro's regime respond to the Prague and Bratislava meeting? American dollar was excluded from the Cuban financial market and Castro threatened certain individuals suspected of providing the opposition with financial resources with imprisonment.
In general, participants have sent a strong and clear message to Mr. Castro: It is about the time to act together and efficiently. We are convinced that Fidel Castro has understood this message very clearly.