ZAPATERO WRITES TO DAMAS DE BLANCO

C O N F I D E N T I A L HAVANA 000636

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/02/2017
TAGS: PREL PHUM SP CU
SUBJECT: ZAPATERO WRITES TO DAMAS DE BLANCO

Classified By: COM Michael E. Parmly, Reasons 1.4 (b/d)


1. (SBU) Spanish leader Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero wrote a
letter to Laura Pollan, representatives of the "Ladies in
White" saying that Spain's engagement with the Cuban regime
is aimed at raising human rights concerns, including release
of the "Ladies'" husbands, who are political prisoners. Text
of letter follows in paragraph 2 below:


2. Unofficial translation. Begin Text:

President of Government, 30 May, 2007

Dear Ms. Laura Pollan
Ladies in White
Havana

Dear Madam:

Thank you for your letter from the month of March in which
you pass on your reflections on the human rights situation in
Cuba, especially the matter of political prisoners.

Firstly, I would like to express to you my admiration for the
courageous efforts carried out by the Ladies in White, which
has earned international recognition, in the form of human
rights awards.

The overall subject of human rights, and in particular the
plight of all political prisoners in Cuba, is of constant
concern to the Government of Spain in its policy toward the
island. In our dialog with Cuban authorities, we transmit
this concern repeatedly, every time we have a chance.

After the visit of the Foreign Minister to Cuba in April,
Spain developed a permanent political consultation mechanism
with Cuba, which includes a dialog on the subject of human
rights, in which no matter is excluded a priori. The Spanish
Government is convinced that the best way Spain can stay in
tune with the Cuban people regarding decisions about their
future is via a dialog with all sectors of Cuban society.

Please be assured that Spain desires the release of all and
every one of the political prisoners. Our fundamental
interest is to create a context propitious for the necessary
changes to be able to obtain advances in this and other areas.

Reiterating to you the Spanish Government's recognition for
your courage and dignity, please accept this as testimony to
my deepest respect.

(Signed)
Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero
President of the Government of Spain
End Text


3. (C) Comment: The Damas de Blanco overall, and Laura
Pollan in particular have told us that they feel let down by
the Spanish initiative to engage the Cuban regime. Since
Foreign Minister Moratinos' April visit, except for a small
number of prisoners whose sentences were already completed,
no Cuban political prisoners have been released.
Additionally, the GOC has made new arrests and prison
sentences under the same harsh laws and selective application
of those laws that it used to arrest the husbands (or in some
cases, brothers or other relatives) of the Ladies in White.
Despite Spain's failure to obtain results, and the Cuban
regime's public insults to the European Union regarding a
human rights dialog in Brussels, we don't see European
diplomats in Havana, and especially the Spaniards but also
others, giving up on regime engagement.
PARMLY