SWEDEN: CONFERENCE ON DEMOCRATIC CHANGE IN CUBA

C O N F I D E N T I A L STOCKHOLM 000180

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/07/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL CU SW
SUBJECT: SWEDEN: CONFERENCE ON DEMOCRATIC CHANGE IN CUBA


Classified By: Polcouns Casey Christensen, reason 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (sbu) Polcouns attended the February 6-7 Conference
"Democratic Change in Cuba: Who are the Actors," which
gathered about 100 representatives of NGOs, embassies, and
political parties (we have requested an electronic version of
the list of participants, and will forward) from around
Europe. The conference was sponsored by the International
Committee for Democracy in Cuba, under the auspices of the
Czech Embassy, and with support from the foundations of the
Swedish International Liberal Center, the Christian Democrat
International Center, and the Olof Palme Center. The Swedish
political representatives ranged from governing party Social
Democrats Urban Ahlin and Kaj Nordquist (respectively Chair
and member of Parliament,s Foreign Affairs Committee) to
opposition leaders Christian Democrat Party head Goran
Hagglund and Liberal Member of the European Parliament
Cecilia Malmstrom. There was general agreement about the
right of the Cuban people to debate and define their own
future, and a recognition of the key role of the U.S., with
several calls for greater U.S./European coordination of
effort.


2. (sbu) Left Party (communist) protesters held a banner
saying "Stop the U.S. Blockade" at the outdoor event that
kicked-off the conference. Malmquist, Hagglund, Ahlin, and
Czech Deputy Foreign Minister Tomas Pojar all underscored the
appropriate irony of having communist supporters of the
Castro regime present and freely criticizing an event
dedicated to supporting the right of Cubans to express their
views and seek democratic transition -- a right denied in
Cuba. Ahlin said that although he did not agree with the
embargo, he supported the right of Cubans to make their own
political choices. He added that he had been criticized for
his support of the Conference by many who somehow viewed
Castro as an unassailable romantic hero. He said Castro was
a dictator, and Cubans deserved the right to chose their
leaders.


3. (sbu) The approach of both having doubts about the
effectiveness of the US embargo and taking a hard line
against Castro on abuses of human and political rights was
stated by several conference presenters and attendees. The
role of the U.S. in supporting Cuban transition was generally
acknowledged as central, and there were several calls for
greater coordination of efforts between Europe and the U.S.


4. (c) Czech DFM Pojar made forceful interventions at
several instances during the conference, calling for a
unified European approach that makes no concessions to
Castro,s regime unless Cuba allows greater political freedom
-- and frees the prisoners. He told us he was planning a
trip to the U.S. in a few weeks, and expected to talk Cuba,
among other topics.


5. (c) From the Swedish perspective, the line-up of support
was interesting. Ahlin is a key Social Democrat. The
opposition, which stands a chance of winning this
September,s parliamentary elections, was represented by the
Liberals and the Christian Democrats, and co-sponsored the
Seminar. The Moderates, the largest opposition party, were
notably absent, as was the Center Party. If there is regime
change in Sweden, the center/right presumably would take at
least as tough a line on Castro as the governing Social
Democrat party has taken. For the Social Democrats, the
primary concern has been human rights abuses. The opposition
parties like Castro,s general political line even less than
the Social Democrats.
NOBLE