Christian Democrats to raise awareness of Cuban political prisoners

The Christian Democrats of the Czech governing coalition have unveiled an internet project designed to increase awareness of the plight of political prisoners in Cuba. The project is called “prisoners of conscience -we know about you” and every day the party’s web site will profile the fate of one political prisoner. Although the Czech Republic approved the lifting of sanctions against Cuba in June of this year some Czech politicians consider this to have been a mistake, believing that diplomatic and business ties should not be reintroduced without democratic reforms in Cuba.

Cuba's Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque warned on Tuesday that President Raul Castro would never renounce socialism, just days before Havana is to hold landmark talks with European Union leaders. The EU delegation will include French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, his Czech counterpart Karel Schwarzenberg and EU Development Commissioner Louis Michel.