POLISH RESOLVE REINFORCED ON CUBA POLICY

C O N F I D E N T I A L WARSAW 003909

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/23/2015
TAGS: PREL PHUM PGOV CU PL EUN
SUBJECT: POLISH RESOLVE REINFORCED ON CUBA POLICY


Classified By: Political Counselor Mary Curtin, reasons 1.4b,d


1. (C) Summary: The transition to a center-right government
in Poland and the Polish MFA Latin America director's recent
visit to Havana appear to have strengthened Polish
determination to promote democratic reform in Cuba, both
through the European Union and bilaterally. We view this
development as an opportunity to encourage Poland to
coordinate closely with the Czech Republic and other
sympathetic governments (especially Germany) to focus EU Cuba
policy to better support the democratic opposition in Cuba.
End summary.


2. (C) Polish MFA Americas Director Henryk Szlajfer returned
from his October mission to Havana (during which he was
nearly denied entry and was effectively stiff-armed by the
Cuban government) with a renewed vigor for taking on the
Castro regime. Szlajfer reviewed for us the Polish proposal
tabled at the November 10 EU COLAT meeting, which called on
the European Union to step up its engagement in support of
Cuban human rights activists and to adopt a unified approach
that will limit the Castro's ability to "divide and conquer."
Among the Polish paper's specific proposals were: a new
initiative to set up a special support fund, under European
Parliament auspices (and with EC backing),to support the
Cuban opposition; possible assistance from the EIDHR; a visit
to Cuba by the EU Human Rights Special Envoy; sponsorship of
individual political prisoners by EU member states, including
providing assistance to their families; more vigorous
pressure on Cuban ambassadors in EU capitals; and a campaign
of activity by EU member state missions in Latin America to
raise awareness of the human rights situation in Cuba.


3. (C) Szlajfer lamented that only the German and Dutch
representatives at the COLAT had voiced support for the
Polish proposals. He agreed that the Polish government
should work closely with the Czechs and the Dutch to lobby
others, particularly the Germans, and suggested that, as part
of that effort, he would take up the issue with the Dutch
during bilateral talks in Ultrecht November 30.


4. (C) The Polish MFA confirmed November 22 that planning is
moving ahead on a digital video conference between former
Polish President Lech Walesa and the Cuban opposition
sometime in December. Walesa's particiption is confirmed,
and the Poles are now looking at the appropriate timing for
this event.


5. (C) Comment: We will continue to encourage Polish
officials to coordinate closely with allies on Cuban policy,
both to maximize their impact at EU meetings and to target
potentially helpful, but so-far mostly silent, partners such
as Germany. Upcoming high-level meetings with the new Polish
government and the anticipated U.S.-Polish Strategic Dialogue
in January will be early opportunities to reinforce this
message.
ASHE