BRITISH POLOFF ANALYZES "COMMON POSITION" ON CUBA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HAVANA 012488

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE DEPT FOR WHA/CCA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/16/2016
TAGS: PHUM PREL KDEM SOCI CU
SUBJECT: BRITISH POLOFF ANALYZES "COMMON POSITION" ON CUBA

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Classified By: COM Michael Parmly for Reason 1.4(d).


1. (C) Summary: The UK's human rights officer in Havana
shared with us June 15 her thoughts on the European Council's
recently released draft conclusions on the EU's "Common
Position" toward Cuba. (The draft states, among other things,
the EU's commitment to seeking dialogue with both the Cuban
Government and the internal opposition.) Political Officer
Melanie Hopkins (protect) described a deliberative process in
which the Czechs and Poles advocated a more confrontational
approach, while Spain, Italy and to a lesser extent France
favored engagement. These differences resulted in the
absence of any mention of GOC participation in national-day
celebrations, Hopkins said. She added that British and other
European officials in Havana are hopeful that the EU will
earmark special funds for the creation of a major Internet
center at the EU diplomatic office in Havana. She said there
is intense EU interest in Oswaldo Paya's "Program for All
Cubans," a democratic transition plan. Britain is set to
pass Canada as the top source of foreign tourists in Cuba.
End Summary.


2. (C) The UK's human rights officer in Havana, Melanie
Hopkins, analyzed on June 15 parts of the European Council's
recently released draft conclusions on the EU's "Common
Position" toward Cuba. The draft states the EU's commitment
to seeking dialogue with both the GOC and the internal
opposition. Hopkins hailed the draft's criticism of the
deterioration of the human rights situation in Cuba, its call
for the release of all political prisoners, and its concern
over acts of repudiation targeting dissidents. (Note: Initial
reaction by Cuban human rights activists to the draft has
been mixed. Oswaldo Paya of the Christian Liberation
Movement told us that the draft doesn't go nearly far enough.
Leading Lady in White Miriam Leiva, on the other hand,
expressed appreciation for the draft's "goodwill." End note.)

EU INTERNET CENTER IN HAVANA?
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3. (C) Hopkins said the EU's stated commitment to "use the
fullest range of resources" to offer all sectors of Cuban
society "practical support towards peaceful change" refers to
the "tens of millions of Euros piling up in Europe in aid
rejected by the Cuban Government." She explained that
British and other European officials in Havana are hoping
that the EU will earmark these funds for the creation of a
major internet center at the EU diplomatic office in Havana,
thus easing pressure on European missions to open costly and
labor-intensive Internet centers of their own.

NO MENTION OF NATIONAL-DAY CELEBRATIONS
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4. (C) Hopkins said that because of disagreements between EU
members, the Common Position draft does not address the issue
of GOC/dissident participation in European national-day
celebrations. (The issue is politically charged; last July
14, Bastille Day, the French Embassy invited Cuba's Foreign
Minister, prompting dissidents to carry out an unauthorized
protest at which nine persons were detained. All remain in
prison nearly one year later, without formal charges.) The
British, and not alone among European missions, opted not to
hold a national day party this year.

TRANSITION PLANNING
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5. (C) The British poloff conceded that the Council's
decision "to start working on a mid- and long-term strategy
on Cuba" is Euro-speak for "transition planning." She said
Council members can be grouped into three categories. The
first, urging a hard line on the Cuban Government, consists
of Poland and the Czech Republic, she said. At the other end
of the spectrum are Spain, Italy and sometimes France, who
favor a policy of non-confrontation. Somewhere in the middle
are Britain and other "countries for whom human rights is an
important issue, but not the only consideration."

DISAPPOINTMENT OVER ROLLOUT OF PAYA PLAN
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6. (C) Hopkins said there is keen EU interest in Oswaldo
Paya's "Program for All Cubans," a plan for a peaceful
transition to democracy, including a draft Constitution. She
said the British Government regards the program as "one of
the biggest things that's happened in Cuba in years, in terms
of human rights." However, she said her government was
disappointed that Paya and his colleagues have not

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distributing the Program more effectively. She said the news
is "fizzling out." (Note: Paya told us that the GOC has
intensified its campaign to confiscate Program copies
distributed by members of Paya's nationwide network of
activist. End note.)

BRITISH TOURISM INCREASING
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7. (C) Hopkins also said Britain, with 220,000 visitors to
Cuba annually, is about to surpass Canada as the top source
of foreign tourists, according to GOC statistics. "I'm not
sure it's a good thing," she said. She said British visitors
tend to come in families, as opposed to many of the Italian
and Spanish tourists. Many of the latter, particularly those
aged 55 years and above, are male and interested in Cuban
female company.
PARMLY