CZECHS DO NOT RECOGNIZE RAUL CASTRO AS A

C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAGUE 000894 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS EUR/NCE FOR ERIC FICHTE, WHA/CCA E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/02/2016 TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL VT XM XS CU EU JA EZ SUBJECT: CZECHS DO NOT RECOGNIZE RAUL CASTRO AS A LEGITIMATE SUCCESSOR REF: STATE 125684 Classified By: Acting Political-Economic Counselor Karen C. Reider for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Poloff met with Czech MFA Director of the Americas Department Jakub Skalnik on August 2 to discuss Czech views on Fidel Castro's temporary transfer of power to Raul Castro. Skalnik said the Czechs share the U.S. view that only a democratically elected leader would be the legitimate successor of Castro. Hence, the Czechs do not recognize Raul Castro as his brother's successor. ¶2. (C/NF) Skalnik said not all EU member states share this view. He explained that the EU conducted working level meetings in early July to discuss possible mid- and long-term strategies for promoting democracy in Cuba. The Czechs supported only those scenarios that would lead to the establishment of a pluralistic democracy, and the development of a society that supports human rights. However, according to Skalnik, many EU members think the most likely post-Castro scenario will be a succession of power to Raul Castro or some other regime insider. To those EU members, a "successful succession" would be a peaceful transfer of power to such a hand-picked leader. ¶3. (C/NF) Skalnik did not say which EU members would accept Raul Castro as a legitimate successor, but he did express dismay that Belgium (and less surprisingly, Spain) had planned to congratulate Castro on his August 13 birthday. CABANISS