SWISS EXPRESS SIMILAR VIEWS ON CUBA

C O N F I D E N T I A L BERN 000094

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR WHA AND EUR/AGS (Y.SAINT-ANDRE)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/25/2028
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM EU CU SZ
SUBJECT: SWISS EXPRESS SIMILAR VIEWS ON CUBA

REF: A. STATE 18317


B. 07 BERN 1125

C. 07 BERN 1146

Classified By: Acting POL Counselor Chris Buck; reasons 1.4(b) and (d).


1. (C) We delivered the message in reftel A to Urs Hammer,
Deputy Director of the MFA Americas Division, and to Werner
Thut, MFA Regional Coordinator for Canada, Mexico, and the
Northern Caribbean. Hammer said that Switzerland's policy
was "similar to, if not the same as" that of the USG, in
assessing and pressing for peaceful political transition in
Cuba. He referred to a February 19 Swiss press article in
which the MFA reportedly was calling for the new Cuban
government to make progress on civil and human rights, and
hoping for a transition to "democratic pluralism." Hammer
said the press article essentially reflected the GOS position.


2. (C) Echoing Hammer's assessment, Thut said that the GOS
policy on Cuba is "very close in substance, if not in sound."
He said that the Swiss government plans to maintain its
bilateral "political dialogue" with Cuba, in the course of
which the Swiss will continue to raise human rights issues
(reftel B). Thut said that Cuba is invited to send a
delegation to visit Bern in 2008 to continue the bilateral
dialogue, as a follow on to the Swiss delegation's November
2007 visit to Havana. He added that Switzerland planned to
continue with its civil society engagement in Cuba, with a
particular focus on local/regional development.


3. (C) In conclusion, Thut remarked that the Cuban
government's very narrow interpretation of Switzerland's
protecting power role had limited Switzerland's ability to be
helpful on that front (reftel C). He said that the GOS
therefore was waiting to see whether the current Cuban
government transition will offer any opportunities in that
regard. (Note: Thut is dual-hatted and also serves as the
Head of the MFA Foreign Interests Section for the Americas,
and thus has responsibility for Switzerland's role as
protecting power for the USG in Cuba. In our presentation of
the reftel A points to him, we made clear that our message
was not being delivered to him in his capacity as MFA
Interests Section chief, but in his Swiss policy coordinator
role. End Note).
CONEWAY