Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05PRAGUE1571
2005-11-04 09:00:00
SECRET
Embassy Prague
Cable title:  

CZECH-CUBA CONFLICT IS HEATING UP

Tags:  PHUM PREL SOCI CU EZ 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
S E C R E T PRAGUE 001571 

SIPDIS

WHA FOR CALEB C. MCCARRY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/02/2015
TAGS: PHUM PREL SOCI CU EZ
SUBJECT: CZECH-CUBA CONFLICT IS HEATING UP

REF: A. HAVANA 21834


B. PRAGUE 01560

Classified By: Poloff Sarah C. Peck for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)

S E C R E T PRAGUE 001571

SIPDIS

WHA FOR CALEB C. MCCARRY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/02/2015
TAGS: PHUM PREL SOCI CU EZ
SUBJECT: CZECH-CUBA CONFLICT IS HEATING UP

REF: A. HAVANA 21834


B. PRAGUE 01560

Classified By: Poloff Sarah C. Peck for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)


1. (U) Action request at paragraph 5.


2. (S) Summary. The Czechs are concerned they will lose
their mission in Cuba as part of the fall-out from the Czech
National Day incident in Havana (ref A). They are therefore
trying to use the incident to rally EU support at the Nov 7
GAERC, and are looking for ways to increase pressure on the
Castro regime without endangering their mission. To help them
form an effective strategy, they have asked the U.S. to share
intelligence on the importance to the GOC of the Cuban
mission in Prague. End summary.


3. (S) Pol-Econ Chief and Poloff met on Nov. 3 with Edita
Hrda, Director of the Czech MFA Americas Desk, to get an
update on the Czech National Day incident in Cuba. Hrda
confided that the Castro regime delivered two dip notes that
caused the Czechs to fear that the GOC may expel the Czech
political officer now in Havana, or worse, close the mission
(among the Cuban complaints was the extensive schedule of
meetings that U.S. Coordinator for Cuban Transition Caleb
McCarry had in Prague, ref B). The Czechs have planned an
internal strategy session next week to discuss possible
actions against Cuba at the EU level, bilaterally, and in
Havana. As part of this planning, the Czechs feel they need
to determine how far they can push back without endangering
their mission. Central to this assessment is a better sense
of how important the Cuban Mission in Prague is to the Cuban
government. Accordingly, Hrda asked if the USG had available
any intelligence or other information on this question that
we could share with the MFA.


4. (C) The Czechs are also trying to rally support in the
EU. For example, the Czechs will explain the incident over
lunch at the Nov 7 GAERC meeting. They hope that an EU
statement condemning GOC actions will be possible at the
December GAERC. In addition, on Nov 8 the Czechs will
request the COLAT working group to evaluate human rights
abuses in Cuba. And, of course, Czechs will continue to push
for a common EU-Cuba policy that recognizes political
dissidents and provides sanctions for senior officials of the
Castro regime, although Hrda was not optimistic that there
would be any changes in the EU common position before next
summer. Historically, most EU countries have not supported
the Czech positions on Cuba. However, the Czechs expect
support from the Danes, and hope the new governments in
Germany and Poland will be supportive as well.


5. (S) Comment. Some EU countries may accuse the Czechs of
over-reacting to the Czech National Day incident. However,
the Czechs stand to lose more than a hotel reservation. The
GOC has sent signals that cause the Czechs to fear they will
lose their Cuban mission. The loss of this mission would make
it harder (if not impossible) for the GOCR and the Czech NGO
People in Need to provide critical support to the Cuban
people, and therefore would undermine important U.S. policy
objectives. Post recommends providing the assistance
requested by the Czechs, including sharing intelligence (to
the extent it exists),and urging EU partners, in particular
Germany, Poland, Denmark, Slovak Republic, and the Baltic
states (see reftel B),to support the Czech EU proposals.

CABANISS