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.