GREECE: STEEP UPHILL PROMOTING SOLIDARITY DAY WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 000611

SIPDIS

WHA/CCA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/05/2018
TAGS: KDEM PHUM PREL EUN CU GR
SUBJECT: GREECE: STEEP UPHILL PROMOTING SOLIDARITY DAY WITH
CUBAN PEOPLE

REF: A. SECSTATE 45792


B. SECSTATE46997

Classified By: AMBASSADOR DANIEL SPECKHARD. REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).


1. (C) Embassy Country Team discussed possible ways to
promote the May 21 "Day of Solidarity with Cuba" (refs a and
b). We have informed the GOG of May 21 as the Day of
Solidarity with the Cuban people and urged it to undertake
its own activities to mark appropriately the occasion.
Moreover, we arelevels and to fiIt is our view, however, that, given the political
context in Greece, Embassy options are very limited. Greek
opinion towards the Castro regime ranges from benign
indifference to full-throated support. The population is
majority leftist in terms of its party orientation and is not
responsive to concerns about human rights in Cuba. Secretary
General of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Aleka Papariga
is currently heading a delegation to Havana and expressed the
KKE's "undivided support" to the Castro regime in its
"struggle against imperialist designs." Within the
center-right New Democracy government, there is greater
awareness of human rights problems with the Castro regime.
But Greece historically has generally supported the EU
position on Cuba at the UN and in other fora, and FM
Bakoyannis as a matter of principle opposes sanctions as a
policy lever, preferring instead "constructive engagement."

3. (C) These political realities point to a desperate need to
make the Greek people aware of the real situation in Cuba.
At the same time, they also severely restrict our
possibilities for action. We will continue to look for
opportunities, both in the GOG and the Greek public, to
heighten awareness of the situation in Cuba.
SPECKHARD