At the initiative and presence of U.S. Congressmen Lincoln Diaz-Balart and Mario Diaz-Balart, a teleconference was held on how Central European countries
can assist democratic transition in Cuba. Opposition leaders Martha Beatriz
Roque, Bertha Antunez and Nestor Rodriguez Loabaina joined the discussion via phone from Havana.
Ambassadors András Simonyi of Hungary, Ratislav Kacer of Slovakia, Petr Kolar of the Czech Republic, Vygaudas Usackas of Lithuania, and
representatives of Poland and Slovenia reiterated their countries'
support for a free and democratic Cuba.
The representatives of the democracies of Central and
Eastern Europe stressed
the importance of making available the truth about their peaceful transition to democracy and
the facts about the successes of their countries. They also expressed their concern for the
physical well-being of the members of the opposition in Cuba.
The Cuban opposition leaders described the nature of oppression in Cuba and expressed their appreciation for the support of Central European
democracies as well as others.
The Cuban American community was represented by Orlando Gutierrez
(Directorio Democratico Cubano), Angel de Fana (Plantados Hasta la Libertad), Sylvia Iriondo (Mothers & Women Against Repression), Mauricio
Claver-Carone (Cuba Libertad), and Frank Calzon (Center for a Free Cuba). The U.S. administration's Cuba Transition Coordinator Caleb
McCarry and State Department Senior Advisor Joaquin Ferrao participated as well. The meeting took place at the headquarters of the Center for a
Free Cuba.
