FRENCH CUBA POLICY: HAVE THEY SEEN THE LIGHT?

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 007145

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/18/2015
TAGS: PREL PHUM FR CU
SUBJECT: FRENCH CUBA POLICY: HAVE THEY SEEN THE LIGHT?


Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt, reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) MFA Cuba Desk Officer Eric Chaux provided a readout
to POLOFF October 17 on the October 11 meeting between French
Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy and Cuban Foreign
Minister Felipe Perez Roque. Chaux echoed the official press
release in stating that the visit was "devoted exclusively to
the human rights situation in Cuba" and that Douste-Blazy had
delivered a strong message demanding the release of
dissidents. The French had adopted a "constructive dialogue"
approach, Chaux explained, after the EU sanctions of 2003 had
failed to produce tangible results. Cuban gestures at the
end of 2004 (prior to the EU vote on suspending sanctions)
and the relatively successful May 20 dissident congress had
raised French hopes that such engagement could effect change.
However, the July 22nd crackdown and current conditions in
Cuba -- which Chaux characterized as similar to the situation
in March 2003 -- were "provocations" that had convinced the
GoF that the Castro regime had "crossed the red line."
According to Chaux, Douste-Blazy had informed Perez Roque
that the GoC had "played long enough" and that the GoF
expected concrete actions, namely the liberation of
dissidents.


2. (C) Comment: A genuine shift in France's Cuba policy may
be in the making. This would be a welcome change, as the GoF
has been second only to Spain in trying to water down EU
efforts to confront Castro. The GoF was the first EU country
to invite GoC officials to its national day, without
similarly inviting dissidents to the same event, following
the suspension of EU sanctions. The GoF added injury to
insult by providing Perez Roque a platform at the event from
which to speak. No such platform, however, was provided
following the October 11 meeting in Paris; Perez Roque did
not speak to reporters afterwards, and the Cuban Embassy in
Paris had no comment on the discussion. The silence on the
part of the GoC suggests the French were indeed forceful in
their demands. Whether this recent dress-down is an
indication of a significant policy shift -- one that will be
followed up with further action -- remains to be seen. End
Comment.
Please visit Paris' Classified Website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm
STAPLETON