ITALIAN MFA ON CUBAN HUMAN RIGHTS UPDATE AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 000241

SIPDIS

FOR CA/OCS/CI MICHELLE BERNIER-TOTH, WHA/CCA, AND EUR/WE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/15/2008
TAGS: PHUM PREL CU IT CACS HUMAN RIGHTS
SUBJECT: ITALIAN MFA ON CUBAN HUMAN RIGHTS UPDATE AND
CUSTODY CASE

REF: A. SECSTATE 10182


B. SECSTATE 4197

CLASSIFIED BY: POLMINCOUNS T. COUNTRYMAN FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D)
CONFIDENTIAL

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1. (U) THIS CABLE CONTAINS AN ACTION REQUEST (PARA 4).


2. (C) POLOFF DELIVERED REF A AND B MESSAGES JANUARY 16 TO
MFA OFFICE DIRECTOR FOR CENTRAL AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN
NICOLO' GORETTI DE FLAMINI. IN RESPONSE TO REF A, THE ANNUAL
HUMAN RIGHTS UPDATE, GORETTI REPLIED, "DON'T QUOTE ME, BUT
YOU KNOW VERY WELL THAT WE WILL VOTE FOR THE (UNHRC)
RESOLUTION THE UNITED STATES WILL ADVOCATE." HE ALSO ASKED
WHETHER LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES WOULD AGAIN TAKE THE LEAD
AND EXPLAINED THAT THE U.S. WOULD HAVE ITALY'S SUPPORT
BECAUSE "WE SHARE YOUR WORRIES. THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION
IS NOT VERY SATISFACTORY." HE ADDED THAT THE EUROPEAN UNION
WAS VERY PLEASED THAT PAYA HAD BEEN ABLE TO COME TO EUROPE
AFTER AZNAR SUCCESSFULLY OBTAINED AN EXIT AND REENTRY PERMIT
FOR HIM. GORETTI OPINED THAT CASTRO HAD GIVEN THE EXIT
PERMIT IN AN ATTEMPT TO PROVE THAT CUBAN CITIZENS WERE FREE
TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY.


3. (SBU) GORETTI LISTENED CAREFULLY TO REF B POINTS, WHICH
EXPLAINED THAT THE CASH SALES MADE AT THE U.S. FOOD AND
AGRIBUSINESS EXHIBITION IN HAVANA LAST SEPTEMBER WERE NOT
ILLEGAL AND THAT THERE WAS NO STARVATION IN CUBA. HE SAID
CUBAN BUYERS HAD BEEN TELLING THEIR ITALIAN SUPPLIERS THEY
WERE OUT OF FUNDS BECAUSE THEY HAD HAD TO PAY THE AMERICANS
CASH AT THE EXHIBITION.


4. (SBU) GORETTI APPRECIATED THE UPDATE, NOTING THAT IF
HIS BOSS, DIRECTOR GENERAL FOR THE AMERICAS ORTONA,
ACCOMPANIED FONMIN FRATTINI ON HIS VISIT TO WASHINGTON NEXT
WEEK, GORETTI WOULD NEED TO BRIEF HIM ON CUBA. HE ALSO ASKED
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ABOUT THE CUSTODY CASE OF THE CUBAN FATHER WHO CLAIMS THAT
HIS CHILDREN'S CUBAN MOTHER DID NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO TAKE
THE CHILDREN TO THE UNITED STATES. ACTION REQUEST: PLEASE
PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS CASE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
END REQUEST.
SEMBLER

CONFIDENTIAL

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2003ROME00241 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL