SPAIN AND CUBAN OUTREACH

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 002700 SIPDIS FOR EUR/WE AND WHA/CCA E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/15/2014 TAGS: PREL PHUM CU SP SUBJECT: SPAIN AND CUBAN OUTREACH REF: A. STATE 152813 ¶B. MADRID 2315 Classified By: Political Counselor Katherine M. Fitzpatrick, reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Ref A sought post's view on the likelihood the GOS or Spanish NGOs would participate in outreach to Cuban civil society to pressure the Castro government to hasten democratic transition on the island. We discussed Cuba with new MFA Director General for Latin America Sandomingo (Ref B). The GOS will maintain a firm stand on Cuba but will not actively work in the EU for a tougher line. The GOS is prepared to normalize dialogue provided the Castro regime takes positive steps showing dialogue would yield results, but the GOS does not expect this to happen and therefore will not do so. However, the GOS wants to open lines of communication with the Cuban government. Given this stance, it is post's judgment that the Zapatero government will not be receptive to entreaties to engage in the activities outlined by ref A to pressure the Cuban government further. Nonetheless, the Foreign Ministry's Director General for Latin America, Francisco Javier Sandomingo, will be visiting with A/S Noriega and others Monday, July 19. His visit provides an opportunity to sound out the Foreign Ministry further on its approach to Cuba. ¶2. (C) Spain-based NGOs tend to be left leaning and while they may favor dialogue with civil society, they are not likely to favor activities that could be seen as designed to pressure the Castro regime further. However, the principal opposition Popular Party may be more amenable to engaging in the type of activities envisioned by ref A. The party's international affairs chief, Jorge Moragas, traveled to Cuba July 13-17 to meet with Cuban dissidents, NGOs and the Catholic Church. MANZANARES