Strasbourg, 11/04/2003 (Agence Europe) - In a resolution adopted on Thursday, the European Parliament condemned the series of arrests and imprisonment of the opposition and independent media in Cuba. It called on the Cuban authorities to release the prisoners immediately and stop violating human rights. It believes that the immediate release of all the prisoners and an end to such arbitrary arrests would send a highly positive and clear signal regarding the Cuban government's desire to enter political dialogue with the European Union and put Cuba's accession to the Cotonou Agreement into practice. Adopting an amendment by the EPP, ELDR and UEN groups by 84 to 13 with 2 abstentions, the EP called on the Council and the Commission to pursue their efforts to promote positive changes in Fidel Castro's regime based on the universal principles of respect for human rights and democratic values.