ITALY: EU COMMON POSITION ON CUBA: ENCOURAGE

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 004699

SIPDIS


FOR WHA/CCA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/13/2014
TAGS: PREL PHUM EU CU IT HUMAN RIGHTS
SUBJECT: ITALY: EU COMMON POSITION ON CUBA: ENCOURAGE
"GOODWILL GESTURES"

REF: A. STATE 262206


B. ROME 04474

C. ROME 04282

D. ROME 04198

Classified By: Human Rights/Labor Counselor Candace Putnam for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).

(C) Paolo Miraglia, MFA Central America and Caribbean
Office Director, reiterated to poloff that Italy and most EU
partners are committed to upholding the fundamentals of the
EU Common Position on Cuba while exploring strategies on how
to further engage and encourage the Castro regime to act in
accordance with the principles of the Common Position (refs
b,c,d). Miraglia stated that in view of the recent release
of some dissidents, which he described as a "goodwill
gesture," the December 14 COLAT would focus on how to
encourage further "positive actions" by the Castro regime.
He said that although these actions were "insufficient" they
pointed to "a positive development" which must be encouraged
rather than stifled. As in previous exchanges, he did not
provide specifics on how this might be done and did not
indicate an Italian position on the issue.


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2004ROME04699 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL