Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BUDAPEST1487
2007-09-11 14:20:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Budapest
Cable title:  

AN ISLAND OF CONSENSUS: CODEL SIRES FINDS STRONG

Tags:  PREL PHUM KDEM HU 
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VZCZCXRO4081
PP RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHUP #1487/01 2541420
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 111420Z SEP 07
FM AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST
TO RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA PRIORITY 0015
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1882
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BUDAPEST 001487 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/NCE; WHA FOR SULLIVAN, SHAPIRO, AND
MCCARRY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/06/2012
TAGS: PREL PHUM KDEM HU
SUBJECT: AN ISLAND OF CONSENSUS: CODEL SIRES FINDS STRONG
AGREEMENT ON CUBA


Classified By: P/E COUNSELOR ERIC V. GAUDIOSI; REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BUDAPEST 001487

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/NCE; WHA FOR SULLIVAN, SHAPIRO, AND
MCCARRY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/06/2012
TAGS: PREL PHUM KDEM HU
SUBJECT: AN ISLAND OF CONSENSUS: CODEL SIRES FINDS STRONG
AGREEMENT ON CUBA


Classified By: P/E COUNSELOR ERIC V. GAUDIOSI; REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)


1. (SBU) Summary: Senior officials across Hungary's
political spectrum pledged strong support for efforts to
"bring democracy to Cuba and to bring Cuba to democracy" in
meetings with Codel Sires August 29 ) 30. Members of the
delegation encouraged Hungary to take an active role within
the EU and to use the unique credibility born of its own
transition to reach out directly to the Cuban people. The
visit helped encourage further cooperation with the GoH and
further competition among the parties on the issue. End
Summary.


2. (SBU) Throughout their meetings, members of the
delegation emphasized the complete support of Members of
Congress, the Cuban opposition, and diaspora community for a
democratic transition. In meetings and in press appearances,
they encouraged continued Hungarian activism within the EU,
applauded the GoH's recent decision to accept protected
migrants from Guantanamo and expressed appreciation for
efforts by the parties to adopt political prisoners. They
warned that the regime might attempt "an absolutist
transition" with Fidel Castro's death, and underscored the
importance of a united international stand in demanding:

release of all political prisoners;
respect for the freedom of the press; and,
rapid, free elections.

The delegation urged Hungary to play a sustained and special
role in this process by making use of its strong personal
ties to Cuba as well as the example of its peaceful
transition.

A STRONG COMMITMENT BUT A GRADUAL CONCEPT


3. (SBU) Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany affirmed his
government's commitment to "move forward together" on Cuba.
He emphasized the rapid progress made in one year since the
government's decision to take a more active role, noting that
"a long journey must begin with a single step."


4. (SBU) Gyurcsany discussed the prospect of "slow changes"
rather than a "dramatic landslide" in Cuba, referring to a
"Chinese model" of "permissive economic conditions but no
political competition." Drawing on Hungary's experience and

touching on "Putin's path" in Russia, he commented that a
successful transition would require both a deep social
commitment to democracy and talented leadership to manage the
process. The challenge, he remarked, is "not making an
omelet from the egg ( but remaking the egg from the omelet."
"Political changes take six months and economic changes take
six years," he concluded, "but social changes take six
decades."


5. (SBU) Although the PM noted continued differences of
opinion within the EU, he also emphasized the strong domestic
political consensus behind the GoH's efforts. This was
confirmed in meetings with the senior leadership of both
coalition and opposition parties.

PREPARING FOR A COMMON FUTURE


6. (SBU) Hungarian Democratic Forum (MDF) President Ibolya
David voiced her personal commitment to supporting political
prisoners in Cuba and noted her efforts with the MFA to press
for a reexamination of the UN Human Rights Committee's
position on Cuba. Turning to Hungary's experiences in the
1990s, she urged the Cuban opposition to "prepare itself now"
in order to "meet popular expectations" and thus "prevent
nostalgia for the old system." Ultimately, the opposition
must meet the challenge of demonstrating that "a common
future is more important than a divided past."

FOLLOWING THROUGH ON HUNGARY'S "MORAL OBLIGATION"


7. (SBU) Foreign Minister Goncz reiterated her commitment to
meeting Hungary's "moral obligation" to provide its
experience to the people of Cuba. Although she noted
continued "aftershocks" from Hungary's transition and
consistent criticism from the Cuban regime, she believes that
the example of peaceful change will send a powerful message
both to the Cuban opposition and to those now in the
government. She also noted that Hungary's new Ambassador in
Cuba is proving to be a powerful messenger. The delegation
hailed the "immediate change" at Hungary's embassy in Havana,
and encouraged outreach to the Cuban military to let them
know that "there will be a future for those who do not have

BUDAPEST 00001487 002 OF 002


Cuban blood on their hands."


8. (SBU) SzDSz MP and MEPP Istven Szent-Ivanyi assured the
delegation of his party,s full support for a transition to
full democratic rule in Cuba. Noting his own party began
with dissidents receiving international support, Szent-Iveny
also raised Hungary,s moral obligation to do the same for
the Cubans. As a member of the European Parliament,
Szent-Ivanyi also highlighted Hungary,s cooperation with
Czech and Polish MPs on the issue and called the British good
allies. He was optimistic the French may be increasingly
sympathetic and termed the Germans &ambivalent.
Szent-Ivanyi strongly agreed with the delegation,s message
that Spain should not be allowed to dictate EU policy on Cuba.

BE CAREFUL AND BE TOUGH


9. (C) FIDESZ Party President Viktor Orban welcomed the
opportunity to engage in support of the Cuban opposition, an
issue "made doubly important" as an example of cooperation
with the US.


10. (C) Drawing on his own experience and in sharp contrast
to PM Gyurcsany's remarks, Orban emphasized that:

Free elections must be the first priority, in large part to
"prevent the regime from reorganizing itself."

The transition will be incomplete and in doubt without steps
to address the issue of the former elite's responsibility,
specifically by establishing conditions regarding its right
to participate in public life.

Efforts to address the secret services will be of paramount
importance and must "start at the top."

The question of restitution must be addressed immediately in
order to "legitimize capitalism" and promote entrepeneurship.

In sum, the transition will have to "leave the Communists no
room to maneuver ) even underground." The new leadership,
he continued, "must be careful and must be tough" because
regime loyalists will "always sense weakness ( and never
change their hearts." "The game," he concluded, "must end."

He pledged his personal efforts within the European Peoples
Party (EPP) and the Christian Democrat International to
increase the public profile of the issue.


10. (C) In closing, Orban pledged his cooperation with the
Gyurcsany government on this issue, emphasizing that "the
solution is the priority" and that the opposition should
"accept help from any quarter." Although he is convinced the
government is using the issue for its own "international
legitimacy," the cause of freedom demands that "the
opposition make use of them."

ALL THINGS TO ALL PARTIES


12. (C) Comment: The issue of Cuba has moved from obscurity
to open and active consensus in a matter of months. Indeed,
the parties are in clear competition to establish their bona
fides on this issue ) a competition we will continue to
encourage. That said, Hungarian officials are bringing
plenty of baggage on this journey. For the Gyurcsany
government, a transition is a gradual ) if not generational
) process. Although the PM's own journey ("from Red to
riches" in the words of one observer) may provide a useful
example in the Cuban context, it will also make the GoH's
approach more cautious and consensual. For the opposition,
the issue is in large part a question of principle but also
an opportunity to refight Hungary's own transition in
preparation for its next elections.


13. Codel Sires did not have the opportunity to review this
cable before departure from Post.


FOLEY