CODEL FLAKE PRESS CONFERENCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HAVANA 023612 SIPDIS SIPDIS OTTAWA FOR USINT COM MICHAEL PARMLY E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/17/2016 TAGS: OREP PREL ECON PHUM KDEM CU SUBJECT: CODEL FLAKE PRESS CONFERENCE REF: HAVANA 23608 HAVANA 00023612 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Buddy Williams; reasons 1.4 (b) and (d ) ¶1. (SBU) Summary: CODEL Flake was besieged by international press upon arrival in Havana on December 15 (reftel). Both in their individual comments to the media and in a joint statement read at a December 17 press conference, CODEL members characterized this as a time for dialogue and an "historic opportunity," and disagreed with statements by Administration officials to the contrary. Most CODEL members criticized U.S. policy over 48 years as ineffective or "a Cold War relic" and predicted that new Democratic majorities in Congress would change that course. Members of the delegation heralded "transition in Washington," rather than in Cuba, and several Representatives put the onus on the U.S. to change its policy unilaterally. However, Rep. Moran voiced disappointment that the post July 31 Cuban government did not indicate any change on its part and had hardened its stance. Rep. Conaway addressed human rights and political freedom, which otherwise received scant attention though some news reports noted that the delegation had not met with dissidents. The international press focused on the state of Fidel Castro,s health and the fact that the delegation did not meet with Raul Castro. End Summary. Historic Opportunity, to Change U.S. Policy -------------- ¶2. (SBU) International press in Havana swarmed over CODEL Flake from the moment they arrived. Rep. Flake and other delegation members told reporters that the majority of the U.S. Congress and the American people supported greater dialogue with Cuba, and that the timing was ripe for such dialogue, differing with recent statements by A/S Shannon. The CODEL issued a joint statement at the conclusion of their visit during a well-attended press conference on December 17 affirming that it was time for the U.S. to enter into a dialogue with Cuba, despite "strong disagreements," and respond positively to Raul Castro,s proposal in his December 2 speech. The statement supports normal diplomacy and consultation on migration, drug trafficking, oil exploration and other areas, as a starting point (Full text in para 8). ¶3. (SBU) At the press conference Rep. Flake underscored the fact that this was the largest CODEL in half a century, and noted the importance of their timing. Rep. Delahunt and other delegation members characterized this as an "historic" opportunity for dialogue, noting Raul,s offer of negotiations, and leveled strong criticism of U.S. policy toward Cuba over 48 years. Rep. Delahunt called U.S. policy an "abysmal failure" while long-time embargo opponent Rep. McGovern said it was "self-defeating and wrong" and a "relic of the Cold War." Other delegation members were less categorical. Reps. Emerson and Moran favored further liberalizing trade, particularly in agricultural products, while Rep. Solis supported lifting restrictions on family travel and remittances. Rep. Harman regretted that there had been so little dialogue with Cuba, and Rep. Davis called for people-to-people contact. ¶4. (SBU) Several members of the delegation focused on change in the U.S. Congress rather than change in Cuba. A number of Members referred to the "transition" in the U.S. Congress, and Rep. Meeks stated that "transition was not about the Castros" but about changing U.S. policy. He argued that it was time to change course in Cuba, as in Iraq. Delegation members predicted majority support in the new Congress for a reorientation of U.S. policy and anticipated more hearings on issues such as drug interdiction or family travel. Change in Cuba -------------- ¶5. (C) Several Members put the onus for change on US policy rather than the Cuban regime, tacitly conceding, as a Cuban official commented, that the "ball was in the U.S. court." Both Reps. Flake and Delahunt referred to Raul Castro,s offer of negotiations, which Delahunt said implied a willingness to change, adding that political will for change now existed on both sides of the Straits. Rep. Moran was less optimistic and expressed disappointment that Cuban HAVANA 00023612 002.2 OF 002 officials gave no indication they were willing to change the nature of their government or policy. While the Cuban people were moving on to a post-Fidel era, the officials were reacting in a more hard-line fashion, he admitted, and there was no evidence of a transition. Rep. Davis also said that both sides must be willing to engage, not just the U.S. ¶6. (C) Few delegation Members referred to the human rights situation in Cuba, with the exception of Rep. Conaway. He was discouraged by his discussions with Cuban officials who were uninterested in addressing human rights, freedom of the press or free elections, and was surprised that Cubans did not even have access to news about Major League Baseball. Asked to reconcile U.S. demands to release prisoners and the Cuban government,s position of non-interference in Cuban sovereignty, both Meeks and McGovern argued that current U.S. policy had not obtained the prisoners, release, and that the U.S. and Cuba needed to sit down and discuss such issues. Others argued that advancing trade and economic freedom would promote human rights. Press Reports Focus on Fidel -------------- 7.(SBU) A few press reports mentioned that the delegation did not meet with dissidents, but most of the U.S. and international media focused on the question of Fidel Castro,s prognosis. Rep. Flake told the press that Cuban officials had assured him it was not cancer and not terminal while Rep. Harman regretted inaccurate statements by U.S. intelligence officials on Fidel,s health. She also noted that the party line that Fidel would return to power created a power vacuum. Rep. Flake said that the delegation had sought a meeting with Raul, but the regime was "not yet ready to concede a new era." Rep. Delahunt told the press that the transition had already occurred with or without Fidel. Joint Statement from the CODEL -------------- ¶8. (U) The CODEL issued the following statement at the December 17 press conference wrapping up their visit: It is time for the U.S. to enter a dialogue with Cuba. America has important interests in Cuba and strong disagreements with the Cuban government. At a time when Cuba is changing and the opportunities to advance our interests and values in Cuba are not known, we unanimously believe that the U.S. should respond positively to the proposal made by Raul Castro in his speech of Dec. 2. No one should be under the illusion that a negotiation with Cuba would be easy, or that results would be guaranteed. But if we refuse to engage in normal diplomacy, we are guaranteed to produce no results at all. We should be consulting regularly about migration issues, to protect national security and to save lives. We should see if more can be done to fight drug trafficking. We should be talking right now about Cuba's offshore oil exploration, given its potential impact on our own marine environment. We know there are fugitives from American justice here, and there are some in U.S. custody who are of interest to Cuba. Perhaps there is the basis of an agreement there. There may be other areas of opportunity. Only by probing Cuba's proposal is it possible to find out. Our visit provided the first official American contact with senior Cuban officials since the delegation of executive powers last July 31. We appreciate the time and courtesies that our hosts extended throughout our visit. WILLIAMS