Luciana Lima       Reporter Agência Brasil

Brasília – Her visit to Cuba surrounded by expectations concerning her position on human rights and individual liberties, especially with regard to Cuban dissidents, president Dilma Rousseff declared that she was in favor of a global commitment in favor of human rights, but intended to avoid commenting on  specific violations alleged to have occurred in Cuba.

“The world needs a generalized commitment. It is a mistake to turn human rights policy into a weapon of political or ideological interests. This is something each country has to take responsibility for, including ours,” said Dilma, as she made it clear that she would not bring up the issue with Cuban authorities for the simple reason that, in the area of human rights, “Brazil has its own problems” (“tem telhado de vidro”).

Speaking at a news conference, Dilma said: “As the saying goes, he who lives in a glass house should not throw the first stone. And we, in Brazil, have ours. ”[in Portuguese: "Quem atira a primeira pedra tem telhado de vidro. Nós, no Brasil, temos os nossos (telhados de vidro)”.]

“I am all for discussing human rights within a multilateral perspective. That is a commitment that all civilized people must make. There are a lot of aspects to be taken into consideration, but even so, it is undoubtedly something we need to improve in the world in general,” declared Dilma.

One Cuban dissident very interested in the position on human rights that Dilma Rousseff would express in Cuba was the journalist-blogger, Yoani Sanchez, who had written a letter to the president asking for assistance in obtaining an exit visa so she could travel to Brazil. Dilma made it clear that Brazilian involvement in the Yoani Sanchez case would be limted to the issuance of a tourist visa, which was done last week.

“Brazil gave the blogger a visa. Assistance with any other requirements necessary for her to travel are not within the scope of Brazilian consular activities,” declared Dilma.

[note (1): Sanchez is in a kafaesque situation in that she not only needs a visa to enter Brazil, but also needs an exit visa to leave Cuba and the Cuban government does not seem willing to give her one; thus her appeal for further Brazilian assistance]

[note (2): translated commentary by Yoani Sanchez is published every Sunday in the newspaper, O Estado de S Paulo]

Allen Bennett – translator/editor The News in English - content modified

Link - Dilma evita discutir direitos humanos em Cuba e diz que Brasil tem "telhado de vidro"