Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07REYKJAVIK306
2007-10-25 16:58:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Reykjavik
Cable title:
ICELAND: AGREE ON CUBAN HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION, DISAGREE ON
how-toVZCZCXRO9433 PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHRK #0306 2981658 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 251658Z OCT 07 FM AMEMBASSY REYKJAVIK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3474 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS REYKJAVIK 000306
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR IO/UNP JOHN MARIZ
ALSO FOR EUR/NB, DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: UNGA ETRD PHUM PREL CU IC
SUBJECT: ICELAND: AGREE ON CUBAN HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION, DISAGREE ON
EMBARGO AS A MEANS FOR CHANGE
REF: STATE 148506
UNCLAS REYKJAVIK 000306
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR IO/UNP JOHN MARIZ
ALSO FOR EUR/NB, DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: UNGA ETRD PHUM PREL CU IC
SUBJECT: ICELAND: AGREE ON CUBAN HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION, DISAGREE ON
EMBARGO AS A MEANS FOR CHANGE
REF: STATE 148506
1. (SBU) Pol Chief passed reftel points as well as President Bush's
Oct. 24 remarks and the White House fact sheet on Cuba policy to the
Icelandic Ministry for Foreign Affairs on 25 October. MFA
Minister-Counsellor for International Organization Affairs Nikulas
Hannigan was appreciative of the additional information regarding
new USG initiatives to support democracy activists in Cuba.
2. (SBU) With regard to the Cuban-sponsored UN General Assembly
resolution against the U.S. embargo, Hannigan noted that this is one
area in which the U.S. and Iceland have traditionally disagreed.
While the Government of Iceland shares U.S. concern for the human
rights situation in Cuba -- and will strongly consider submitting an
explanation of vote expressing same -- it disagrees with the embargo
as a good tactic for achieving progress in Cuba. As a result, the
MFA sees little reason to alter its historical pattern of voting for
the resolution.
VAN VOORST
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR IO/UNP JOHN MARIZ
ALSO FOR EUR/NB, DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: UNGA ETRD PHUM PREL CU IC
SUBJECT: ICELAND: AGREE ON CUBAN HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION, DISAGREE ON
EMBARGO AS A MEANS FOR CHANGE
REF: STATE 148506
1. (SBU) Pol Chief passed reftel points as well as President Bush's
Oct. 24 remarks and the White House fact sheet on Cuba policy to the
Icelandic Ministry for Foreign Affairs on 25 October. MFA
Minister-Counsellor for International Organization Affairs Nikulas
Hannigan was appreciative of the additional information regarding
new USG initiatives to support democracy activists in Cuba.
2. (SBU) With regard to the Cuban-sponsored UN General Assembly
resolution against the U.S. embargo, Hannigan noted that this is one
area in which the U.S. and Iceland have traditionally disagreed.
While the Government of Iceland shares U.S. concern for the human
rights situation in Cuba -- and will strongly consider submitting an
explanation of vote expressing same -- it disagrees with the embargo
as a good tactic for achieving progress in Cuba. As a result, the
MFA sees little reason to alter its historical pattern of voting for
the resolution.
VAN VOORST