CUBA -- EU RESPONSE ON LIBERTAD ACT TITLE III

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 002859

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CCA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/02/2014
TAGS: ETTC PREL CU EUN USEU BRUSSELS
SUBJECT: CUBA -- EU RESPONSE ON LIBERTAD ACT TITLE III
DETERMINATION

REF: SECSTATE 145203

Classified By: Political Officer Maren Smith for reasons 1.4 (b/d).


1. (C) We discussed reftel points with Karl Buck, Head of
the Council Secretariat's Latin America Division, on July 2.
Buck immediately asserted that he had not heard of any such
paper but could not exclude the possibility of some
member-states having prepared their own reports. The EU
would discuss relations with Cuba at its regularly-scheduled
July 6 Latin America Working Group meeting; Buck expected a
few member-states to raise specific issues, which could
include concerns about U.S. policy. Asked whether he thought
the PSC might discuss Cuba the same day, he said that
although the issue was primarily economic rather than
political, he could not rule out the possibility that the PSC
would consider it. We re-emphasized that the U.S. was still
analyzing current policies toward Cuba and had not made any
decisions yet regarding Title III suspension. Buck replied
that the U.S.-EU Understanding had worked very well, and
added that he hoped "we were not entering very dangerous
ground."


2. (C) Points were also shared with the Dutch PSC
Ambassador.

SCHNABEL