SPAIN: NO SURPRISE CUBA VISIT IN THE WORKS

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 000426 SIPDIS SIPDIS WHA/FO FOR A/S SHANNON AND PDAS SHAPIRO E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/07/2017 TAGS: PREL SP CU SUBJECT: SPAIN: NO SURPRISE CUBA VISIT IN THE WORKS REF: MADRID 338 Classified By: DCM Hugo Llorens for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) At an unrelated meeting with Spanish Director General for Foreign Policy Rafael Dezcallar on March 2, DCM raised the topic of a possible visit to CUBA of Foreign Minister Moratinos, and he noted that he had told Secretary of State for Latin America Trinidad Jimenez that such a visit could send the wrong message (reftel). Dezcallar backed away slightly from Jimenez's comments, saying that a visit was under consideration but was not a GOS priority. He said that it would only go forward if it became clear that such a visit would become useful. Dezcallar said that Castro's apparent recent recovery has made the situation problematic for everyone, including within the Cuban government. Dezcallar said that it is clear now that Raul's team is in control and is managing the state effectively. He said that Spain must be open to them and see where the new leadership will take Cuba. ¶2. (C) DCM paraphrased Assistant Secretary Shannon's comment that Europe should not leave the U.S. alone on CUBA and noted that it would be beneficial if our European allies would be more explicit in sending a message to the Cuban government on their goal of democracy for Cuba. DCM made reference to President Zapatero's January comments on CUBA and said the U.S. would love to see more of this from the GOS. (NOTE: At a forum in Madrid on January 24, President Zapatero said the following: "I have said it many times, not as a sign of merit or as a justification, but I do not know Fidel Castro. I have never met with him...I respect the Cuban people, I want the best for the Cuban people, but this is a Latin American population. Obviously, the regime that they have is manifestly improvable, because we all wish a democratic regime for all countries." END NOTE.) The DCM concluded by stressing to Dezcallar the importance of maintaining open contact on Cuba, and he added that any sort of surprise visit by Moratinos to CUBA would send a bad message in advance of the Secretary's visit. Dezcallar took the comments on board and reiterated that no decision had been made on a visit to Cuba. -------------- Visit Embassy Madrid's Classified Website; http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/madrid/ -------------- AGUIRRE