Taking into consideration its resolution 2003/12 of April 17, 2003

Considering that in the aforementioned resolution the Commission urged the Government of Cuba to receive the personal Representative of the High Commissioner of the United Nations for Human Rights and to afford all the necessary facilities so that she can fulfill the mandate established in the resolution 2002/18 of April 19, 2002,

Conscious that compliance with human rights and fundamental liberties is an obligation inherent to all States in the framework of the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations,

1.      Expresses that the Government of Cuba like all sovereign States, independent of the prevailing exceptional international circumstances, which have obliged many States to intensify security measures, should avoid the adoption of measures which could threaten fundamental rights, freedom of expression and the right to due process of its citizens. In this regard, regrets the facts which occurred last year in Cuba in respect to sentencing of political dissidents and journalists, as has been reported by the international news media.

  2.      Expresses its hopes that the Government of Cuba will continue making      an  effort to strengthen religious freedom and that it will put into place measures with the objective of facilitating the transition toward the establishment of a fruitful dialogue with all the currents of thought and organized political groups in its society, despite the precarious international environment, with the objective of promoting the full development of democratic institutions and civil liberties.

 3.      Urges the Government of  Cuba to cooperate, within the full exercise of its sovereignty, with the representative of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, facilitating the fulfillment of her mandate, as other sovereign States must do in compliance with the purposes and principles which govern the Charter of the United Nations.

 4.      Decides to give further consideration to this subject in the Sixty-first session, under the same agenda item.