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

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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