C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 005583

SIPDIS


DEPT. FOR WHA/CCA, DRL AND EUR/WE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/10/2013
TAGS: PHUM PREL CU IT HUMAN RIGHTS
SUBJECT: CUBAN CHARM OFFENSIVE: USUAL AUDIENCE PRIMED, BUT
NO PERFORMERS YET

REF: STATE 334414

CLASSIFIED BY: DCM EMIL SKODON, REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D)


1. (C) WE REVIEWED DEVELOPMENTS IN CUBA WITH MFA UNDER
SECRETARY MARGHERITA BONIVER DECEMBER 9 IN THE COURSE OF A
WIDE-RANGING CONVERSATION, NOTING THAT WE'D SEEN SOME
INDICATIONS THAT CASTRO WAS POISED TO LAUNCH A NEW CHARM
OFFENSIVE. BONIVER SAID SHE'D SEEN NO INDICATION OF ANY
PROPOSED VISITS BY CUBAN OFFICIALS BUT ACKNOWLEDGED
COLLEAGUES IN THE MFA'S WESTERN HEMISPHERE DIVISION WOULDN'T
NECESSARILY THINK TO ALERT HER TO SUCH A VISIT. STILL, SHE
WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF A CUBAN DELEGATION INCLUDED A STOP
IN ITALY ON ANY SWING THROUGH EUROPE. DESPITE LAST SUMMER'S
DIPLOMATIC DUST-UP, AND THE CUBAN CRACKDOWN THAT PRECIPITATED
IT, CASTRO STILL HAD MANY ADMIRERS AMONG THE ITALIAN LEFT.
MEMORIES OF THE SPRING CRACKDOWN AND EXECUTIONS WERE FADING,
AND SOME LEFTIST PARLIAMENTARIANS AND COMMENTATORS WERE
CLEARLY INCLINED TO REVERT TO OLD HABITS. BONIVER PROMISED
TO ALERT US TO ANY PROPOSED VISITS; IN TURN, SHE ASKED US TO
PROVIDE ADVANCE WARNING IF WE HEARD A CUBAN DELEGATION WAS
CONTEMPLATING A VISIT -- OFFICIAL OR PRIVATE -- TO ITALY.


2. (C) COMMENT: WE DOUBT THE MFA WOULD LOOK FAVORABLY ON AN
OFFICIAL CUBAN VISIT ANYTIME SOON, BUT THERE ARE PLENTY OF
OTHERS WHO STILL WOULD WELCOME A PRIVATE VISIT. A
LONG-STANDING CRITIC OF THE CASTRO REGIME, BONIVER IS PART OF
THE REASON THE ITALIAN LEFT FINALLY ACKNOWLEDGED CUBA'S
MASSIVE HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES LAST SPRING AND CRITICIZED THE
CASTRO REGIME. SHE IS CLEARLY PREPARED TO REPRISE THAT ROLE,
IF NECESSARY, TO TRY TO MINIMIZE THE IMPACT OF ANY "PRIVATE"
VISITS.
SEMBLER

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2003ROME05583 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL