Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07HAVANA896
2007-09-11 16:04:00
CONFIDENTIAL
US Interests Section Havana
Cable title:
CONVERSATION WITH DAGOBERTO VALDES
how-toVZCZCXRO4605 RR RUEHAO RUEHCD RUEHGA RUEHGD RUEHHA RUEHHO RUEHMC RUEHNG RUEHNL RUEHQU RUEHRD RUEHRG RUEHRS RUEHTM RUEHVC DE RUEHUB #0896 2541604 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 111604Z SEP 07 FM USINT HAVANA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2265 INFO RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS RUEHROV/AMEMBASSY VATICAN 0145 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L HAVANA 000896
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR WHA/CCA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/2017
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL CU
SUBJECT: CONVERSATION WITH DAGOBERTO VALDES
Classified By: COM: Michael E. Parmly: For reasons 1.4 b/d
C O N F I D E N T I A L HAVANA 000896
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR WHA/CCA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/2017
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL CU
SUBJECT: CONVERSATION WITH DAGOBERTO VALDES
Classified By: COM: Michael E. Parmly: For reasons 1.4 b/d
1. (C) SUMMARY: At a September 5 dinner at the COM Residence,
Dagoberto Valdes, former editor-in-chief of Vitral, Pinar del
Rio's Catholic review, reflected on life after his
resignation from Vitral, the institution of the Church, and
his future role as someone who does not want to compete
against the new Vitral. Valdes appreciated Post's offer to
provide him with USINT-generated daily press clippings,
stressing that information was the key to change in Cuba. END
SUMMARY.
2. (C) Though seemingly not embittered, a philosophical and
reflective Valdes explained that he is inspired by a one-word
message the COM sent him upon his resignation from Vitral,
earlier this year. "Coraje, (courage)" Valdes said, was the
same word that came from the lips of Pope John Paul II during
their last meeting that occurred a few months prior to the
Pope's death. Valdes said that he is moving on. He meets
once a week with 11 of his 77 former staff, who are people he
can count on. He said he is not quite ready yet to put out
any publication. Whenever he is ready, whatever form his
writings will take, Valdes indicated he will not compete with
the new Vitral. He said that he could not "soil the nest"
that was his home.
3. (C) His stated respect for the new Vitral
notwithstanding, Valdes is bitter about the top echelons of
the Church in Cuba. The ascension of Serpa as the new bishop
of Pinar del Rio, which set in motion the chain of events
which led to his resignation, was virtually the work of
Cardinal Ortega, with the blessing of the Vatican coordinator
of the Latin American bishops. In his estimation, Bishop
Serpa, therefore, is as much of a regime figure as Cardinal
Ortega, and not to be trusted. Valdes makes a sharp
distinction between these top tiers of the Church and the
priests and grassroots laity. To Valdes, they constitute a
powerful force, but lacking in leadership, or without support
from above, they will not be as effective.
4. (C) Uncertain of how best to channel his dissenting
message in the future, at present Valdes is concentrating on
the rolling-out of a book which compiles many of his
editorials in Vitral. The book was presented last week in
Spain, and will be presented in Miami on September 21. COM
advised Valdes to focus more on the Belgian, French and
Italian press.
5. (C) Comment: After 17 years at the helm of one of the
most respected publications of the Catholic Church in Cuba,
and his safehaven from which he projected a voice of dissent,
Valdes is still treading water and uncertain of what course
to take. We made our resources available to him, and he took
us up on our offer to send him our daily news clippings, in
the hope that when he is ready, Valdes will use his mighty
pen again.
PARMLY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR WHA/CCA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/2017
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL CU
SUBJECT: CONVERSATION WITH DAGOBERTO VALDES
Classified By: COM: Michael E. Parmly: For reasons 1.4 b/d
1. (C) SUMMARY: At a September 5 dinner at the COM Residence,
Dagoberto Valdes, former editor-in-chief of Vitral, Pinar del
Rio's Catholic review, reflected on life after his
resignation from Vitral, the institution of the Church, and
his future role as someone who does not want to compete
against the new Vitral. Valdes appreciated Post's offer to
provide him with USINT-generated daily press clippings,
stressing that information was the key to change in Cuba. END
SUMMARY.
2. (C) Though seemingly not embittered, a philosophical and
reflective Valdes explained that he is inspired by a one-word
message the COM sent him upon his resignation from Vitral,
earlier this year. "Coraje, (courage)" Valdes said, was the
same word that came from the lips of Pope John Paul II during
their last meeting that occurred a few months prior to the
Pope's death. Valdes said that he is moving on. He meets
once a week with 11 of his 77 former staff, who are people he
can count on. He said he is not quite ready yet to put out
any publication. Whenever he is ready, whatever form his
writings will take, Valdes indicated he will not compete with
the new Vitral. He said that he could not "soil the nest"
that was his home.
3. (C) His stated respect for the new Vitral
notwithstanding, Valdes is bitter about the top echelons of
the Church in Cuba. The ascension of Serpa as the new bishop
of Pinar del Rio, which set in motion the chain of events
which led to his resignation, was virtually the work of
Cardinal Ortega, with the blessing of the Vatican coordinator
of the Latin American bishops. In his estimation, Bishop
Serpa, therefore, is as much of a regime figure as Cardinal
Ortega, and not to be trusted. Valdes makes a sharp
distinction between these top tiers of the Church and the
priests and grassroots laity. To Valdes, they constitute a
powerful force, but lacking in leadership, or without support
from above, they will not be as effective.
4. (C) Uncertain of how best to channel his dissenting
message in the future, at present Valdes is concentrating on
the rolling-out of a book which compiles many of his
editorials in Vitral. The book was presented last week in
Spain, and will be presented in Miami on September 21. COM
advised Valdes to focus more on the Belgian, French and
Italian press.
5. (C) Comment: After 17 years at the helm of one of the
most respected publications of the Catholic Church in Cuba,
and his safehaven from which he projected a voice of dissent,
Valdes is still treading water and uncertain of what course
to take. We made our resources available to him, and he took
us up on our offer to send him our daily news clippings, in
the hope that when he is ready, Valdes will use his mighty
pen again.
PARMLY