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