CUBAN RESOLUTION AGAINST US EMBARGO: EU WILL VOTE

UNCLAS ROME 004924

SIPDIS


FOR IO/UNO, WHA/CCA AND USUN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL ETRD CU IT UNGA
SUBJECT: CUBAN RESOLUTION AGAINST US EMBARGO: EU WILL VOTE
IN FAVOR

REF: SECSTATE 301451


1. (U) ANDREINA MARSELLA, MFA CUBA DESK OFFICER, TOLD POLOFF
ON OCTOBER 29 THAT, ALTHOUGH HIGHLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE HUMAN
RIGHTS SITUATION IN CUBA, THE EU WILL VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE
CUBAN RESOLUTION. MARSELLA INFORMED POLOFF THAT THE DECISION
HAD BEEN REACHED DURING AN EU LATIN AMERICA WORKING GROUP
MEETING IN BRUSSELS ON OCTOBER 28.


2. (U) SHE STATED THAT ALTHOUGH THE EU AGREES THAT THE US
EMBARGO IS A BILATERAL ISSUE AND THAT THERE ARE GRAVE HUMAN
RIGHTS CONCERNS IN CUBA, THE EU SUPPORTS FREE TRADE AND DOES
NOT BELIEVE THE EMBARGO IS THE CORRECT APPROACH TO SOLVING
CUBA'S HUMAN RIGHTS PROBLEMS.


3. (U) WHEN POLOFF EXPRESSED THE US CONCERN THAT THE CASTRO
REGIME WILL USE THE VOTE AS AN INDICATION OF EU SUPPORT FOR
THE CASTRO REGIME, MARSELLA STATED THAT THE EU'S DECLARATION
OF VOTE WILL UNDERLINE THE EU'S CONCERNS ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS
AND WILL "URGE LASTING AND SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENTS IN HUMAN
RIGHTS IN CUBA." SHE STATED THAT THE VOTE IS IN FAVOR OF FREE
TRADE, NOT THE REGIME'S ATTITUDE TOWARDS HUMAN RIGHTS.
MARSELLA CONCLUDED BY SAYING THAT THIS YEAR'S DECISION TO
SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION WAS MORE DIFFICULT THAN IN THE PAST
DUE TO CONTINUING HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN CUBA.
SEMBLER

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2003ROME04924 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED