Declaration of Parliamentary Support for Political Opening in Cuba We the undersigned, members of different legislative bodies of Latin America,

all of whom have been selected in free, multiparty elections, have decided to form the LATIN AMERICAN PARLIAMENTARY GROUP FOR CUBAN DEMOCRACY, with the objective of demanding the full political opening of Cuba, thereby supporting the right of its people to participate in free, democratic elections in the formation of the government of their country, as established in Article 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The governments of Latin America, along with regional and international democratic community in general have a debt to pay when it comes to the the Cuban people to effectively exercise their fundamental democratic excuse for ignoring and much less for supporting a one-party regime supremacy of State power over the basic human rights of the population. organisations and the defence of the right of liberties. There is no built on the supposed

Consequently, in solidarity with the Cuban people, we commit ourselves to make heard the voices of those who, within Cuba, work peacefully in favour of the democratic opening of their country, and to denounce the abuses they suffer in consequence of this exercise of their rights, considered a crime by the one-party regime. Likewise, we will transmit to our respective governments and to the entire international democratic community our request for the recognition and protection of members of the Cuban democratic movement, just as so many countries did with respect to those politicians and human rights activists who were persecuted by the military dictatorships of Latin America. Finally, we set forth: a) Our discontent with the handing over to Cuba of the presidency of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), to take place during the Summit to be realised on the 26th and 27th of this month in this city, given that the authorities of that country completely lack any democratic legitimacy; and b) Our request to the rest of Latin Americas and the worlds parliamentarians, that they point out the significant deterioration of the human rights situation in Cuba, which has been denounced opportunely and permanently by the relevant international organizations.
Members: Argentina: Cornelia-Schmidt-Liermann (Diputada Nacional-PRO), Julin Obiglio (Diputado Nacional-PRO), Francisco Quintana (Legislador Ciudad de Buenos Aires-PRO). Bolivia: Adrin Esteban Oliva Alczar (Diputado Nacional-Convergencia Nacional). Chile: Patricio Walker (Senador Nacional- PDC), Jos Manuel Edwards (Diputado Nacional- RN), Mnica Zalaquett (UDI). Mxico: Fernando Rodrguez Doval (Diputado Distrito Federal- PAN), Rafael von Raesfeld (Diputado Puebla PAN). Paraguay: Miguel Carrizosa (Senador Nacional- PPQ), Marcelo Duarte Manzoni (Senador Nacional- PPQ), Ana Mara Mendoza de Acha (Senadora Nacional- PPQ), Sebastin Acha (Diputado Nacional - PPQ), Olga Ferreira de Lpez (Diputada Nacional- PPQ), Orlando Penner Duerksen (Diputado Nacional- PPQ), Carlos Mara Soler (Diputado Nacional- PPQ), Uruguay: Jaime Trobo (Diputado Nacional Partido Nacional), Diego Echeverra (Legislador Madonado-Partido Nacional), Tabar Viera (Senador Partido Colorado) Venezuela: Alejandro Romero (Diputado Nacional Primero Justicia), Homero Ruiz (Diputado Nacional COPEI), Support of Democratic Parliamentary Alliance of America.

Santiago de Chile, 24 January 2013 Contact: prodecuba@gmail.com