The art historian and activist Carolina Barrero Ferrer commented on a television program about her experience with European and American politicians in denouncing the Cuban dictatorship and its ruling elite.
"Everyone listens, the question is who takes action? They all listen to you with their notebooks and diligently take notes. They never deny you a meeting, but then what are you going to do? What can be done with this?" Barrero described to the journalist and host of the program "A Fondo," on América TeVé, Juan Manuel Cao.
During the dialogue, Barrero demonstrated an exquisite mastery of international relations and especially of the diplomacy that exists between Cuba, the European Union, and the United States.
The activist was particularly critical of the work of Josep Borrel, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union, whom she said has had during his mandate the "intention to whitewash and generate ties with the dictatorship."
Regarding the visit of the European diplomat to Havana last year, the activist said they do not want the repression experienced by both political prisoners and their families to be hidden any longer, and that this is endorsed by the European Union when they meet with members of the Cuban dictatorship.
"We do not want the meetings with civil society that the European delegation has in Havana to happen in secret and without public recognition. We do not want there to be submission to the regime’s requests, but rather an acknowledgment of the democratic forces," he stated.
He also emphasized that the European Union must impose individual sanctions on the leadership of the Communist Party. “The members of the leadership and their families, and this includes banning them from traveling to Europe, prohibiting them from having open accounts in Europe, both for themselves and their companies, because GAESA is also involved, CIMEX as well,” he stated.
Barrero, one of the most visible activists in recent years on the island, received a Sájarov Fellowship last March, awarded by the European Parliament (EP) to the new generation of human rights defenders.
Focused on the mission of empowering these activists to become agents of democratic change in their own countries, the Sakharov Grants from the EP have been awarded annually since 2016 to a maximum of fourteen human rights defenders from countries outside the European Union (EU).
In thanking for this scholarship, Barrero explained that it "consists of a program of meetings, conferences, and training on issues related to the defense of human rights and the functioning of European mechanisms in favor of democracy."
"It is a recognition of Cuban activism and it is also a huge responsibility that I will place, above all things, at the service of the cause of freedom," added the member of the 27N platform and one of the most recognizable voices among the young activists that gathered around the San Isidro Movement (MSI).
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