MINREX LAUNCHES NEW ATTACK ON USINT ACTIVITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L HAVANA 000515

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/02/2013
TAGS: PREL CU
SUBJECT: MINREX LAUNCHES NEW ATTACK ON USINT ACTIVITY

Classified By: COM Michael E. Parmly for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) The Communist Party daily Granma ran a full page
statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MINREX) in
its July 2, edition lambasting USINT's activities as being
illegal and contrary to accepted practice for diplomatic
missions and personnel in Cuba. See full translated text in
paragraph 6.


2. (C) We first checked with our LCN staff members to take
their temperature, two lines of thought emerged:

-- The GOC is completely frustrated with the activities and
operations of USINT, including our migration programs. The
GOC is very concerned with the "growing desperation" of the
public; as the &reforms8 are not having their desired
effect. The GOC has little hope that the Migration Accords
will change in the near future and is obsessed with
demographic trends, the flight of young people (the
elimination of the 'tarjeta blanca' exit permit has been
completely ruled out). Also a source of deep concern is
Spain's program to grant citizenship to grandchildren of
Spanish citizens, to be implemented in 2009. The GOC might
make the calculation that a migration crisis with the U.S.
would be to its advantage.

-- It is a warning to the dissidents primarily; secondarily
to USINT. The government is getting ready to make arrests.
Timing is connected to our 4th of July event.


3. (C) We have started to hear from some of our contacts.
Father Jose Conrado, an activist priest in Santiago, called
the COM the morning the statement appeared to comment on it
and to assure us that he would attend the July 4 event at the
COM residence. Marta Beatriz Roque and Vladimiro Roca plan
to visit with us in the afternoon of July 2.


4. (C) COMMENT: This latest statement from MINREX has a
more ominous tone than the one that accompanied the three-day
blast against USINT in late May. Except for the provision of
funding, material and planning, most of the "charges" listed
are accurate. We are not entirely sure why MINREX issued
this strong statement at this time. We see this as a final
shot at outgoing COM Parmly and/or a warning shot across the
bow of incoming COM Farrar. It's also an attempt to lower
attendance at our annual 4th of July reception, which as of
today could attract as many as 900 people (out of 1,800
invited). The GOC is frustrated that the May anti-USINT
exercise did not result in any lessening of our activities.
After initial hesitation, many dissidents seem to be getting
back to normal activity, including contacts with USINT,
albeit under greater scrutiny and harassment.


5. (C) Comments continued: Thinking more speculatively, it
also shows a sign of fear that Cuba is at a critical
juncture. The regime wants to tamp down dissident activity
as much as possible. Whatever the reason, the tone implies
that the GOC is prepared to take measures if USINT does not
cease immediately all of its contacts with dissidents and
civil society groups. We expect to see a ratcheting up of
restrictions on visa issuance, or even the PNGing of selected
USINT officers. We do not plan, nor would we recommend, any
scaling back of our normal activities. Further, we believe
that our public response, as it was in May, should be that we
do not discuss bilateral relations via the press. End of
comments.


6. (U) OSC Translated Text:

Begin text:

Cuba: Foreign Ministry Denounces USINT 'Provocations,' Issues
Warning: 02 July 2008

This escalation constitutes the most recent confirmation of
the desperation felt by the US Administration which,
frustrated by the repeated failure of its policy of isolation
against Cuba, is intensifying its provocations and subversion.

The Foreign Ministry denounces, once again, the illegal
actions of the US Interests Section that flagrantly violate
not only the bilateral agreement that gave rise to the
establishment of that office, but also Cuban laws and the
international norms contained in the Vienna Convention on
Diplomatic Relations of 1961, of which the United States is a
member.

The Ministry accuses the US Government of planning and
encouraging this and other counterrevolutionary provocations,
which constitute an intrinsic part of its policy of
subversion and strategy to overthrow the Cuban Revolution.

The Government of Cuba summons the US Government to answer to
these facts, and demands the USINT put a definitive end to
meddling activities to encourage, organize, lead, finance and
monitor the internal counterrevolution.

The Cuban Government clearly reiterates that it will not
tolerate the continuation of these provocations and illegal
actions instigated by the US Administration through its
diplomatic officials in Havana, and holds the US Government
responsible for the consequences that may result from its
answer. End text.


Parmly
PARMLY