C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 004198

SIPDIS


FOR WHA/CCA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/29/2014
TAGS: PREL PHUM EU CU IT HUMAN RIGHTS
SUBJECT: ITALY: EU COMMON POSITION ON CUBA

REF: SECSTATE 228300

Classified By: POL M/C Tom Countryman for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

1 (C) Paolo Miraglia, MFA Central America and Caribbean
Office Director, stated that the EU Common Position on Cuba
was being reexamined by the EU at the insistence of the
Zapatero government. He said that the issue would be
discussed at the upcoming EU Latin America Working Group
(COLAT) November 16 at which time EU ambassadors from Havana
would provide input on possible changes to the Common
Position. Although he was not aware of any specific
proposals, Miraglia stated that one of the principal points
that will be analyzed is the efficacy of the current policy
of inclusion of dissidents at national day celebrations and a
discussion of how to normalize relations with the Castro
regime. Miraglia stated that the November 16 COLAT would
serve primarily to hear the opinions of EU ambassadors and
evaluate different proposals but doubted that any decisions
would be made at this time.


2. (C) According to Miraglia, the issue is highly
polarized, with countries such as Spain and France pushing
for "normalized" relations while others want to maintain the
current approach. He stated that Italy is generally in favor
of maintaining the current position due to the lack of
improvement in the human rights situation in Cuba but is also
willing to entertain other proposals.


3. (C) Regarding the Spanish motivation, he stated that the
Zapatero government believes that the current approach is not
producing results, and in fact is allowing Castro to
ostracize EU ambassadors making it difficult for them to make
any headway with the regime. In addition to this argument,
Miraglia said that the Spanish, due to their traditional ties
with Cuba, are keen to maintain a leadership role on this
issue and are therefore the driving force behind the
reevaluation.


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2004ROME04198 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL