USINT DISCUSSES POTUS SPEECH WITH LOCAL DIP CORPS

C O N F I D E N T I A L HAVANA 001029 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/30/2012 TAGS: CU PGOV PHUM PINR PREL SUBJECT: USINT DISCUSSES POTUS SPEECH WITH LOCAL DIP CORPS REF: HAVANA 1019 Classified By: Michael E. Parmly for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Following up on the President's October 24 speech, USINT hosted meetings with ambassadors or their representatives from 46 embassies in Havana on October 29 and 30 to provide copies of the full text of the speech, highlight the most important points, and answer questions regarding the proposals contained therein. The embassies invited represent a cross section of some of the most influential embassies from Europe, East and South Asia, Latin America, and Africa. ¶2. (C) Our colleagues questions centered on a few key items in the speech, including: --Internet access: This proposal was greeted favorably by all, but with questions as to how it might be implemented over GOC objections. Several ambassadors acknowledged running "internet cafes" in their embassies already that we had not been aware of. The Indian Ambassador said she runs a large (75 station) internet training center that is open to all Cubans. Still, some of important internet work is being done by the smallest embassies in town, such as the Slovakian Embassy which has three workstations, in spite of extreme pressure from the regime. The key question that arose was how other embassies might be able to get the equipment necessary to establish internet links in the face of restrictions obligated by the embargo. Some said that companies refuse to provide equipment destined to Havana, even for official use. COM responded that, if embassies and/or foreign ministries can assure that the equipment is being used to support the President's proposal, the USG could look at ways to work within the context of the embargo to overcome these problems. --Scholarships: Most were curious as to the decision criteria for granting scholarships and, again, how to overcome GOC opposition. Those who have scholarship programs of their own complained of constant difficulties with the GOC. One ambassador wanted to know if the scholarships would be limited to children of prominent dissidents only. COM responded that the President's speech did not limit the distribution to the children of dissidents, only to those suffering from oppression--arguably a significant part of the entire population. --Fund for Freedom in Cuba: Again, most were interested in the mechanics of the proposal. Where would the money go, who would oversee its distribution, etc.? One ambassador made the solid connection to the speech of noting that her country already had an infrastructure development program, which would be much more effective if it were part of something larger. COM explained that the details were not known yet, but would come out of the process led by Secretary Rice and Secretary Gutierrez that was announced by the President. SIPDIS Each of their countries should play a role in that process if they are capable of contributing to the fund. --As expected, there were questions about the timing, speculating that it was a response to the UN vote on the embargo or part of the US electoral process. COM made clear that the timing of the speech had nothing to do with the UN vote or the US electoral process. It was rather, the logical response to the fact that things on the island are changing. Some of our European colleagues also told us that there is confusion in their capitals about the President's statement that: "The operative word in our future dealings with Cuba is not 'stability.' The operative word is 'freedom.'" Apparently there is some concern that this represented a shift in US policy. In these meetings and follow-on discussions, COM has reiterated that the President's statement was a reaffirmation of US policy, not a change. ¶3. (C) COMMENT: We are encouraged by our colleagues willingness to work with us on the President's proposals. It will be important to obtain clearer answers to their questions regarding the mechanics of the proposals--especially on the internet proposal--as soon as possible. PARMLY