Malliotakis, GOP Colleagues Commend Lithuania for its Refusal to Ratify Political Dialogue & Cooperation Agreement with Cuba

(WASHINGTON, DC) - Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) led her colleagues House Committee on Foreign Affairs Ranking Member Michael McCaul (TX-10), Congressman Carlos Gimenez (FL-26), and Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar (FL-27) in introducing H.Res.440, commending Lithuania for refusing to ratify the European Union's (EU) Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement (PDCA) with Cuba.

In 2016, the EU signed the PDCA with the Government of Cuba to "consolidate and strengthen links between the parties in the areas of political dialogue, cooperation, and trade, on the basis of mutual respect, reciprocity, common interest and respect for their sovereignty." Lithuania is the only European Union member state that has refused to ratify the PDCA.

"The European Union's PDCA with the Communist Government of Cuba only legitimizes Cuba's repressive regime of censorship, detention, torture and murder of political opponents, and unparalleled restrictions on pro-democracy efforts in Cuba and Venezuela," said Congresswoman Malliotakis. "I commend Lithuania for refusing to ratify this agreement and validate the Government of Cuba's egregious human rights violations and abuse of their people. I urge other EU member states to follow in Lithuania's footsteps and hope Congress can come together to strengthen the United States-Lithuania relationship on a diplomatic, military, economic, and humanitarian basis."

"Lithuania’s courage in standing up to Cuba’s accommodationists in the European Union should be recognized by defenders of democracy and human rights everywhere," said Tony Costa, President, Foundation for Human Rights in Cuba. "We applaud Congresswoman Malliotakis for bringing attention to this matter in Washington and strongly urge her colleagues to support this Resolution."