SPAIN/CUBA: SPAIN WARY OF EU STATEMENT ON CUBAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 002765 SIPDIS SIPDIS EUR FOR A/S FRIED AND PDAS VOLKER WHA FOR A/S SHANNON, PDAS SHAPIRO, AND AMBASSADOR MAISTO E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/30/2016 TAGS: PREL CU SP SUBJECT: SPAIN/CUBA: SPAIN WARY OF EU STATEMENT ON CUBAN DEMOCRACY REF: A. MADRID 2596 ¶B. MADRID 2495 Classified By: DCM Hugo Llorens; Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D) ¶1. (C) MFA Director General for Foreign Policy Rafael Dezcallar confirmed to DCM on October 24 Ref A statements by MFA Secretary of State for Ibero America Trinidad Jimenez that Spain did not believe the time was right for a joint statement on Cuba. Dezcallar went beyond Jimenez in asserting that Spain would not support any EU statement on Cuba "at this time," whether it be a statement issued jointly by the U.S. and EU or unilaterally by the EU. DCM expressed disappointment that Spain appeared to be backing away from a commitment made by Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos to Secretary Rice on the margins of the UNGA. SIPDIS ¶2. (C) DCM contacted Dezcallar again on October 26 to emphasize that this issue had been raised at the ministerial level and that we had not heard a definitive response from FM Moratinos on this issue. DCM noted that if Spain agreed with the US on the broad strategy of promoting a democratic Cuba, a statement outlining this objective in general terms would seem entirely appropriate. Dezcallar said that Spain continued to support this objective, and when further pressed on this issue, Dezcallar responded that the door did not entirely remain shut on the idea of a US-EU statement, but that the Spanish Government remained firm that the time was not right at this moment. //COMMENT// ¶3. (C) Clearly the Spanish have pulled back on Moratinos' initial willingness to discuss a joint statement on Cuba; the Ambassador will continue to press Moratinos on this issue at the earliest opportunity. We understand A/S Shannon may phone Jimenez in advance of the Ibero American Summit and we support a recommendation for him to raise this issue with her. It is also clear that Spain retains the initiative on Cuba issues within the EU, but we would view it as entirely appropriate to encourage other EU members to promote an EU statement on Cuba since Madrid has opted for now not to go forward. It would help our efforts here in Madrid if Spain faced pressure from EU countries prepared to support either a joint statement or a unilateral statement expressing support for a democratic transition in Cuba. At the very least, the circulation of such a statement would force Spain to clarify its position as events in Cuba progress. We want Spain with us on Cuba, but do not believe we can fully cede the initiative to Madrid within EU councils. AGUIRRE