CZECH DIPLOMAT EXPELLED FROM CUBA - MORE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PRAGUE 000388 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/14/2016 TAGS: PREL KDEM CU EZ EUN SUBJECT: CZECH DIPLOMAT EXPELLED FROM CUBA - MORE EXPULSIONS ON BOTH SIDES LIKELY REF: PRAGUE 0121 Classified By: Charge Michael Dodman for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary. On April 13, the Castro regime announced it would not renew the visa of Czech diplomat Stanislav Kazecky, effectively expelling him. The Czechs believe another Czech diplomat may be expelled next week. The Cuban Charge d'Affaires in Prague said the GOC expelled Kazecky because his activities were "inconsistent with his diplomatic status." The Czech government plans to retaliate in kind by expelling at least one Cuban diplomat, and to use the expulsion as a rallying cry for a tougher EU common policy against the Castro regime. End summary. ¶2. (C) Poloff spoke separately on April 14 with Petr Janousek, Czech MFA Americas Desk Officer, and Marek Toman, of the Transformation Cooperation Unit, to discuss the expulsion of Czech diplomat Stanislav Kazecky from Cuba. ¶3. (C) The MFA confirmed the following facts: Kazecky's visa was due to expire on April 14, 2006, and the Czechs had requested a renewal. On April 13, the Czech Charge d'Affaires Vit Korselt was summoned to the Cuban MFA. There he was given a note stating Kazecky's visa would not be renewed. No further explanation was given. The GOC ordered Kazecky, second in command at the Embassy, to leave Cuba within 72 hours. ¶4. (C) The Czech MFA immediately summoned Cuban Charge d'Affaires in Prague, Aymee Hernandez Quesada, for an explanation. Under intense questioning by Jakub Skalnik, MFA Director of the Department of Americas, Hernandez admitted the GOC's decision not to renew the visa was the equivalent of a diplomatic expulsion. According to Janousek, Hernandez said the GOC did not renew Kazecky's visa because his activities were "inconsistent with his diplomatic status." She referred to Kazecky's contact with organizations that support dissidents, and that she claimed are funded by the USG. (Note: the Czechs believe Hernandez was referring to Czech NGO People in Need, which is active in Cuba.) ¶5. (C) Toman said Kazecky has worked hard to support democracy in Cuba, and is regularly in touch with dissidents and their families. Not surprisingly, the Cuban regime has harassed him for his efforts. In a recent incident, a group of Cuban "citizens" barred him from entering a building to meet with dissident family members. Toman said Kazecky has also experienced unpleasant treatment by some members of the international diplomatic community in Cuba. While Toman declined to identify any specific incident or diplomatic mission, he coyly noted that Spain's position on Cuba is diametrically opposed to the Czech position. ¶6. (C) In retaliation for Kazecky's expulsion, the Czechs said they plan to expel at least one Cuban diplomat. They also plan to use the incident as leverage to push for a tougher EU common policy against the Castro regime. They have already notified their EU partners via COREU and may request them to make statements in the future. Although the Czechs' ideas are still in the planning stages, according to Janousek they will try to put the issue on the agenda at the next COLAT and GAERC meetings. In addition, the Czechs have already planned to host a conference on April 25 for foreign ministers active on Cuba (including Spain),and NGOs. Collective response to the expulsion will likely be discussed at the conference. ¶7. (C) Finally, the visa of Manuel Angel Baltar Charnicharo (please protect),the GSO at the Czech Embassy in Cuba, is due to expire on Wednesday, April 19. The Czechs are concerned the GOC will not renew Charnicharo's visa, and therefore are preparing a diplomatic note urging renewal of his visa. ¶8. (C) Comment. The Czech-Cuban relationship will likely worsen in coming days as diplomats in both countries are expelled and/or their visas are not renewed. Losing Czech diplomats in Cuba will have an adverse impact on Cuban dissidents and their families. In addition to providing material support and comfort to these people, Czech diplomats help People in Need (PIN) promote democracy and human rights on the island by permitting PIN to use diplomatic pouches to send money, supplies, and medicine into Cuba, and photographs (ref A),and other items back out. While unfortunate, these high-profile expulsions may persuade other EU member states to side with the Czechs on a tougher EU common policy. As will be reported septel, the Czechs have recently obtained PRAGUE 00000388 002 OF 002 behind-the-scenes statements of support for a tougher EU policy from other member states, including Slovakia, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Sweden, the Netherlands, and others. The timing of this incident could not be better for the Czech position, as it will certainly set the tone for the April 25 conference, and may strengthen the resolve of like-minded countries before the EU foreign ministers meet in June 2006 to review EU common policy on Cuba. DODMAN