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