Madame, I find this line to be very interesting, because Cuba does trade with countries other than communist countries. It trades with Spain. It trades with numerous countries in Europe and in other places, in Africa.
I agree that the American embargo has been very hard on the Cuban people. Our union's position is not that we are seeking an embargo. Nonetheless, the question is whether the rise of the embargo would result in.... Your line of questioning seems to be implying the embargo is directly tied to the arrest of these 60 people. I find that inconceivable. I'm sorry to be so aggressive, but our union is not in agreement with the American embargo.
Our union's position is that we want the release of 60 people, particularly nine people who are attempting to do something Canadians do here on a regular basis, and that is have independent organizations that stand up for the rights of Cuban people.
If rights are being oppressed and abused by the Cuban government, by its own government, if they want to say the American reasons for that, that's not justifiable. Our position is that the nine need to be released, the 60 need to be released. And the political prisoners of conscience who have been listed by the United Nations, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Freedom House, and numerous organizations, including, I may say, trade confederations, the ICFTU, which is typically a more socialist type of body, have also criticized Cuba in this regard.
That would be my response.