Success on the World Stage
JW Takes Case Against Castro to European Leaders


In a whirlwind tour conducted in concert with the Bush Administration's State Department, Judicial Watch took its case against Fidel Castro to the world stage, visiting leaders of six European nations. The campaign, which was designed to persuade European leaders to implement sanctions against the Communist Dictator, followed an historic visit with President Bush in June, during which the President promised JW clients victimized by Castro that he would not abandon them.

Following is a summary of Judicial Watch's tour:

Switzerland: June 27

Accompanied by former U.S. Congressman Bob Barr and JW clients, including Fidel Castro's estranged daughter, Alina Fernandez, JW Chairman Larry Klayman spoke to a plenary session of the Crans-Montana Forum, an annual gathering of over 1,000 senior government officials from around the world. Larry Klayman also led a panel discussion on the use of extra-territorial jurisdiction to bring dictators to justice when they commit crimes against humanity. "It¹s time for the likes of Fidel Castro to be brought to justice for butchering and torturing countless innocent victims," Klayman told attendees.

Belgium: June 30

Judicial Watch also held a series of strategy sessions with key European Union officials, Belgian leaders and the United States Ambassador to Belgium to devise a plan to end the recent wave of executions and life sentences imposed by Castro on those seeking freedom. The net results were encouraging as the EU and the Belgian government expressed a commitment to end the current state of affairs in Cuba and push for justice for those suffering under Castro's regime.

Holland: July 2

Judicial Watch's delegation, which included Ms. Fernandez, and Blanca Gonzalez, the mother of an independent journalist son just sentenced to 25 years in jail in Cuba, visited the influential Dutch NGO, "Glasnost en Cuba," and the American Embassy in the Dutch capital of Den Haag. While Dutch officials have decided to take a "wait and see" approach to the developing situation in Cuba, they did promise that if Castro's response is unsatisfactory by summer¹s end, stern action will be taken.

Spain: July 4

As America was celebrating its independence, Judicial Watch met with some of the highest leaders of the Spanish government on July 4th to help bring freedom to Cuban citizens. Judicial Watch's visit to Spain was marked by intense interest from the Spanish media, as reporters packed a press conference held by JW at the Madrid office of the Hispanic Cuban Foundation in order to question JW Chairman Larry Klayman at length about the progress being made by the delegation. JW also earned a promise from Spanish officials that Spanish President Aznar would visit Miami, Florida to visit firsthand with the families of those victimized by Castro.

Italy: July 7

On July 7, JW met with the second most powerful politician in Italy and held private, confidential meetings with other high-ranking Italian officials. JW was also given the privilege of addressing the Foreign Relations Committee of the Italian Parliament. At the end of a heart-wrenching speech by Blanca Gonzalez, who's son now sits in a Cuban jail cell, JW Chairman Larry Klayman told a quiet chamber in their native Italian, "You can see from this example just exactly why it is imperative that Italy and the world condemn Castro, and finally bring an end to his barbaric regime.

France: July 8

Given recent tensions in Franco-American diplomatic relations, JW views its visit to Paris as the capstone of the trip. JW Chairman Larry Klayman was offered the chance to address the French National Assembly, which is the French equivalent to the U.S. House of Representatives. In French, legislators gathered to hear the testimony of Klayman, and JW clients Blanca Gonzalez, and Alina Fernandez.

As a former international lawyer, Mr. Klayman speaks several foreign languages.








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