Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07PRAGUE531
2007-05-11 17:58:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Prague
Cable title:
CZECHS ARE THE LONE HOLD-OUT ON EU CUBA POLICY
how-toVZCZCXRO2896 RR RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHPG #0531 1311758 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 111758Z MAY 07 FM AMEMBASSY PRAGUE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9041 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0202 RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA 0094
C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAGUE 000531
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
EUR/NCE FOR ERIC FICHTE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/03/2017
TAGS: PREL KDEM CU EZ
SUBJECT: CZECHS ARE THE LONE HOLD-OUT ON EU CUBA POLICY
REF: STATE 52623
Classified By: Political-Economic Counselor Mike Dodman
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAGUE 000531
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
EUR/NCE FOR ERIC FICHTE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/03/2017
TAGS: PREL KDEM CU EZ
SUBJECT: CZECHS ARE THE LONE HOLD-OUT ON EU CUBA POLICY
REF: STATE 52623
Classified By: Political-Economic Counselor Mike Dodman
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C/NF) Poloff met with Czech MFA Director of Americas
Department Jakub Skalnik on May 4 to discuss the EU's
diplomatic strategy on Cuba (reftel). Skalnik lamented that
the Czechs find themselves in the unpleasant position of
being the "spoiler" at the June review of the EU common
policy on Cuba. Pursuant to a proposal by the German
presidency, the so-called "June measures" (existing sanctions
against the Cuban regime) would be terminated, and a policy
of greater openness towards the Cuban regime will be
implemented. The Czech are horrified to find themselves the
only EU member country opposing this proposal. All the usual
pro-democracy supporters (Poland, Netherlands, Slovakia,
Hungary, Denmark, the UK, and Sweden) are said to be
supporting the proposal.
2. (C/NF) Pol-Econ Counselor raised this with Deputy FM Tomas
Pojar on May 10. Pojar said the Czechs may veto the German
proposal, but intense debate is underway internally on the
consequences of taking this principled position. The
consequences include: (1) Cuba will likely cut its relations
with the Czech Republic completely (thereby jeopardizing
Czech government and NGO initiatives to support the
democratic opposition),and (2) the Czechs also may become
isolated within the EU on other issues of concern, such as
Russia and Belarus. The final decision is up to FM Karel
Schwarzenberg. He is in Berlin May 11 for a bilateral
meeting with the German foreign minister and will discuss the
issue.
3. (C/NF) Spanish FM Angel Moratinos will be in Prague the
week of May 21, both to chair the annual OSCE Economic
Dimension conference and then for bilateral consultations.
FM Moratinos is bringing his Latin AMERICA experts and Cuba
is certain to be a major topic of discussion. In light of
the on-going internal and external consultations, Pojar could
make no prediction on what the FM would decide on a possible
veto, except to note that Schwarzenberg is passionate in his
support for the Cuban opposition.
GRABER
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
EUR/NCE FOR ERIC FICHTE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/03/2017
TAGS: PREL KDEM CU EZ
SUBJECT: CZECHS ARE THE LONE HOLD-OUT ON EU CUBA POLICY
REF: STATE 52623
Classified By: Political-Economic Counselor Mike Dodman
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C/NF) Poloff met with Czech MFA Director of Americas
Department Jakub Skalnik on May 4 to discuss the EU's
diplomatic strategy on Cuba (reftel). Skalnik lamented that
the Czechs find themselves in the unpleasant position of
being the "spoiler" at the June review of the EU common
policy on Cuba. Pursuant to a proposal by the German
presidency, the so-called "June measures" (existing sanctions
against the Cuban regime) would be terminated, and a policy
of greater openness towards the Cuban regime will be
implemented. The Czech are horrified to find themselves the
only EU member country opposing this proposal. All the usual
pro-democracy supporters (Poland, Netherlands, Slovakia,
Hungary, Denmark, the UK, and Sweden) are said to be
supporting the proposal.
2. (C/NF) Pol-Econ Counselor raised this with Deputy FM Tomas
Pojar on May 10. Pojar said the Czechs may veto the German
proposal, but intense debate is underway internally on the
consequences of taking this principled position. The
consequences include: (1) Cuba will likely cut its relations
with the Czech Republic completely (thereby jeopardizing
Czech government and NGO initiatives to support the
democratic opposition),and (2) the Czechs also may become
isolated within the EU on other issues of concern, such as
Russia and Belarus. The final decision is up to FM Karel
Schwarzenberg. He is in Berlin May 11 for a bilateral
meeting with the German foreign minister and will discuss the
issue.
3. (C/NF) Spanish FM Angel Moratinos will be in Prague the
week of May 21, both to chair the annual OSCE Economic
Dimension conference and then for bilateral consultations.
FM Moratinos is bringing his Latin AMERICA experts and Cuba
is certain to be a major topic of discussion. In light of
the on-going internal and external consultations, Pojar could
make no prediction on what the FM would decide on a possible
veto, except to note that Schwarzenberg is passionate in his
support for the Cuban opposition.
GRABER