DUTCH REACTION TO CUBAN CRACKDOWN

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 001450

SIPDIS

WHA/CCA, EUR/UBI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/02/2013
TAGS: PREL PHUM CU NL
SUBJECT: DUTCH REACTION TO CUBAN CRACKDOWN

REF: A. (A) SECSTATE 152061



B. (B) HAVANA 8955

Classified By: Acting Political Counselor Nathaniel P. Dean for reasons
1.5 (b) and (d).

(C) PolOff met with Jan Jaap Groenemeijer, Senior Staff
Officer of Central America and Caribbean Division at the MFA,
to discuss the Dutch response to the recent crackdown in Cuba
on pro-democracy activists. Groenemeijer stated that the
Dutch support the points in ref A and have not only made a
symbolic gesture of inviting pro-democracy activists to the
Dutch Mission in Havana's National Day celebrations last
April, but also are discouraging high-level government to
government visits. He indicated that the EU is discussing
the best strategy to approach this issue to put pressure on
Castro to release the prisoners of conscience. Groenemeijer
agreed that the USG and the EU should be working together
towards a joint initiative. He inquired whether the USG has
finalized a policy on this issue and opined that he believes
that the USG should focus on supporting civil society in Cuba.
RUSSEL