Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08HAVANA469
2008-06-21 17:02:00
CONFIDENTIAL
US Interests Section Havana
Cable title:
REACTION IN CUBA TO EU DECISION TO LIFT
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C O N F I D E N T I A L HAVANA 000469
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/20/2013
TAGS: CU EU PGOV PREL
SUBJECT: REACTION IN CUBA TO EU DECISION TO LIFT
DIPLOMATICS SANCTIONS
Classified By: COM Michael E. Parmly for reason 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L HAVANA 000469
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/20/2013
TAGS: CU EU PGOV PREL
SUBJECT: REACTION IN CUBA TO EU DECISION TO LIFT
DIPLOMATICS SANCTIONS
Classified By: COM Michael E. Parmly for reason 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Civil society members, reaction to the EU decision
to drop its already suspended sanctions on Cuba was
predictably negative. Though some had continued to hope for
a miracle, most had no realistic expectation that the EU
would react any other way. Key dissident leaders including
Marta Beatriz Roque, Vladimiro Roca, and Oswaldo Paya all had
sent messages to selected EU capitals opposing the dropping
of sanctions in strong terms, but their contacts with local
embassies gave them little hope that their views had any
traction in Europe.
2. (C) Official reaction so far has been surprisingly muted.
It could be that the GOC is not yet sure how to respond to
the inclusion of future benchmarks on political prisoners and
statements that EU visitors to Cuba will meet with opposition
members. In the end, it was not the total vindication they
had hoped for.
3. (C) COMMENT: We too are disappointed by the EU decision.
While the GOC has indisputably instituted changes, to date
those changes mostly allow it to shore up areas of the
economy where rising expectations might present a threat, and
exert more effective control over management of economic
actors to set the stage for future economic reforms. They
emphatically do not, however, open any political space. If
the Europeans are satisfied with promoting a stronger Cuban
economy irrespective of civil and political rights, so be it.
We do not believe that was their intention, and that makes
this decision all the more unfortunate.
PARMLY
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/20/2013
TAGS: CU EU PGOV PREL
SUBJECT: REACTION IN CUBA TO EU DECISION TO LIFT
DIPLOMATICS SANCTIONS
Classified By: COM Michael E. Parmly for reason 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Civil society members, reaction to the EU decision
to drop its already suspended sanctions on Cuba was
predictably negative. Though some had continued to hope for
a miracle, most had no realistic expectation that the EU
would react any other way. Key dissident leaders including
Marta Beatriz Roque, Vladimiro Roca, and Oswaldo Paya all had
sent messages to selected EU capitals opposing the dropping
of sanctions in strong terms, but their contacts with local
embassies gave them little hope that their views had any
traction in Europe.
2. (C) Official reaction so far has been surprisingly muted.
It could be that the GOC is not yet sure how to respond to
the inclusion of future benchmarks on political prisoners and
statements that EU visitors to Cuba will meet with opposition
members. In the end, it was not the total vindication they
had hoped for.
3. (C) COMMENT: We too are disappointed by the EU decision.
While the GOC has indisputably instituted changes, to date
those changes mostly allow it to shore up areas of the
economy where rising expectations might present a threat, and
exert more effective control over management of economic
actors to set the stage for future economic reforms. They
emphatically do not, however, open any political space. If
the Europeans are satisfied with promoting a stronger Cuban
economy irrespective of civil and political rights, so be it.
We do not believe that was their intention, and that makes
this decision all the more unfortunate.
PARMLY