ITALY AND CUBA: NSC-DIRECTED REVIEW FOR LIBERTAD

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 003298

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR WHA/CCA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/14/2016
TAGS: CU ETRD ETTC PREL IT
SUBJECT: ITALY AND CUBA: NSC-DIRECTED REVIEW FOR LIBERTAD
TITLE III SUSPENSION

REF: STATE 191752

Classified By: Political Minister Counselor David D. Pearce for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary. There have been few developments in Italy's
relationship with Cuba in the past six months. The Italian
Embassy in Havana continued to meet regularly with opposition
leaders as part of efforts to engage in intensified dialogue
with civil society. Italy did not participate in exchange
programs with Cuba. Italian joint ventures in Cuba continued
to experience judicial problems with the GOC, leading to a
further decline in Italian investment on the island. The
number of Italian tourists traveling to Cuba also fell. The
Italian Chamber of Deputies Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on
Human Rights held a hearing on the human rights situation in
Cuba attended by expatriate dissidents. Embassy Rome
recommends the continuation of Italy's waiver under Title III
as important to helping Italy maintain positions critical of
the GOC. End Summary.


2. (U) Poloff and Econoff met with Paolo Miraglia, MFA Office
Director for Central America and the Caribbean, December 13
to discuss Italian policy towards Cuba and any recent
developments as per reftel request.


3. (C) Italian joint ventures in Cuba continued to experience
judicial problems with the GOC, leading to a further decline
in Italian investment on the island. The overall level of
trade with Cuba stayed roughly the same and Italy
participated in the November trade fair in Havana. According
to Miraglia, there were no new trade agreements with Cuba in
the past six months. The number of Italian tourists
traveling to Cuba fell. Miraglia reported the UK is now the
number two country of origin for travel to Cuba among EU
countries, with Italy dropping to third place. Italy did not
participate in exchange programs with Cuba.

4.(C) Miraglia said there had been very little activity in
Italy's relations with Cuba in the past six months, and no
diplomatic visits, high-level or otherwise. In December, the
Italian Chamber of Deputies Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on
Human Rights held a hearing on the human rights situation in
Cuba attended by two Cuban dissidents. Osvaldo Valdes,
former political prisoner now a refugee in Sweden, and Joel
Brito, former president of Cuba's Liberal Democratic Party,
now living in the United States, briefed the parliamentarians
and met with MFA Under Secretary for Latin America Donato Di
Santo. The Italian Embassy in Havana continued to meet
regularly with opposition leaders as part of efforts to
engage in intensified dialogue with civil society.


5. (C) In this transition period, Miraglia noted that the
succession seemed to be consolidating and that Italy
supported engaging in dialogue with the emerging leaders. He
suggested that flexibility on the part of the United States
could help facilitate political change on the island.
Although Italy agreed in the need for strengthened U.S.-EU
collaboration on Cuba, Miraglia thought a common declaration
would be difficult for the GOI to accept for domestic
reasons. The Italian public would see the GOI as identifying
with U.S. policy and, therefore, the embargo.


6. (C) Comment. Embassy Rome recommends the continuation of
Italy's waiver under Title III as important to helping Italy
maintain positions critical of the GOC. End Comment.
SPOGLI