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This letter has been reproduced courtesy of the Embassy of the Czech Republic.
Open letter to the Cuban dissidents on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of democratic revolution in Central and Eastern Europe.
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Dear Martha Beatriz Roque, Felix Bonne, Rene Gomez Manzano, Vladimiro Roca, In these days, we are commemorating the tenth anniversary of the changes that brought the end of the totalitarian regimes in Central and Eastern Europe and launched the process of democratization in our part of the world. The results of the past decade show that the path from a closed to an open society can be arduous. In spite of all the difficulties which have accompanied the transformation of our society, however, we have been constantly aware of the enormous gift that is freedom. We still keep in mind those fantastic moments, when we realized that communist dictatorships have truly come to an end and that we have lived to see something many of us did not dare to hope for: The events in which we were taking part were not a sort of deviation from relentless historical necessity, but a genuine revolution, fundamentally transforming our lives and brings us a true liberation. At this time, we also think of you and we believe that your longing for a free Cuba will also be fulfilled one day. It is really you -- and not your jailers -- who realize Marti's ideals in practice. It is you -- and not them -- who represent the best revolutionary traditions of your country, and who -- together with other courageous Cubans, dedicated to the cause of liberty, of inalienability of human rights and of human dignity -- are the guarantee of a better future. Please accept our admiration, our thanks and our assurance that we are with you in your difficult situation. If our transformation experiences and the lessons we learned can serve as an inspiration -- or as good or bad examples -- for Cuba, when the time comes, we are ready to help you, in a spirit of solidarity. With all good wishes and best regards, Your friends, former fellow dissidents of East-Central Europe.
Battek Rudolf, Czech Republic
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