NETHERLANDS/EU/CUBA: DUTCH STRADDLING THE FENCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 001555

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/03/2015
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL CU NL SP
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/EU/CUBA: DUTCH STRADDLING THE FENCE

REF: A. STATE 102505

B. THE HAGUE 1439

Classified By: Political Counselor Andrew Schofer for reasons 1.4 (b) a
nd (d).


1. (C) In a meeting with POLOFF on June 3, Jan Jaap
Groenemeyer, senior advisor on Cuban issues at the Dutch MFA,
took issue with Ref A demarche points describing the EU's new
approach to Cuba as a failure. He asserted that results were
more mixed: some prisoners had been released but new ones
arrested; new repressive measures were balanced by the fact
that the regime allowed Roque's meeting of dissidents.
Preparing for the COLAT on June 7, the Dutch see merit in
Spain's argument that extending the policy might eventually
produce more positive results. Groenemeyer acknowledged that
some new ideas were on the table, but would not discuss them
in detail, noting that "the decision is really at the
ministerial level now" (presumably referring to the upcoming
GAERC.)


2. (C) Groenemeyer responded more positively, however, to the
specific proposals outlined in ref a. Some EU countries, he
said, already provide information access to the opposition by
making the internet available to them at Embassies or in
other ways. The Dutch modestly support independent libraries
with funds and books. Groenemeyer expected the COLAT and
GAERC would discuss the idea of inviting key opposition
members to Europe. As for a visa ban for human rights
abusers, the Dutch support the idea in principle, but "it has
not been raised by the hard-liners, such as the Czechs." The
EU as a whole does not favor a visa ban, he added, because it
would have little more than symbolic value since the persons
in question usually do not leave the island anyway.
Groenemeyer thought it was a good idea for EU states to call
in Cuba's EU Ambassadors for human rights discussions.
Finally, he understood that some EU embassies in Cuba do send
delegations to visit other parts of the island to meet
opposition figures, albeit "unofficially."


3. (C) Comment: Groenemeyer's equivocation and reluctance
to call the new measures a failure in light of the record
suggests the Dutch will continue straddling the EU fence (ref
b). Facilitating an EU consensus remains the highest
priority for the Dutch, even if this means simply tweaking
current measures to find a compromise that avoids a direct
confrontation with Havana. End Comment.
SOBEL