Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08LONDON650
2008-03-04 15:57:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy London
Cable title:
HMG HAS RAISED CONCERNS WITH EU COMMISSIONER
how-toVZCZCXYZ8551 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHLO #0650 0641557 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 041557Z MAR 08 FM AMEMBASSY LONDON TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7674 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA PRIORITY 0034
C O N F I D E N T I A L LONDON 000650
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR WHA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/04/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV EUN CU UK
SUBJECT: HMG HAS RAISED CONCERNS WITH EU COMMISSIONER
MICHEL OVER HIS CUBA VISIT
REF: STATE 20108
Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Maura Connelly for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L LONDON 000650
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR WHA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/04/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV EUN CU UK
SUBJECT: HMG HAS RAISED CONCERNS WITH EU COMMISSIONER
MICHEL OVER HIS CUBA VISIT
REF: STATE 20108
Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Maura Connelly for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C/NF) HMG agrees the upcoming visit of EU Commissioner
Louis Michel to Cuba is "not the smartest timing," and has
raised directly with Michel the importance of underscoring
the EU's dual-track policy, including meeting with civil
society, during the visit, according to Foreign Office EU
Correspondent Martin Shearman. In response to ref demarche,
Shearman told Poloff that although HMG could not stop an EU
Commissioner's trip, the UKEU Mission had raised with Michel
HMG concerns that he "stay on message" and underscore the
EU's dual-track policy during his visit. The UK had also
pressed Michel to meet with civil society representatives.
Shearman said that although the British had not specifically
pressed Michel to meet with the families of political
prisoners, London had emphasized the need for Michel to raise
human rights concerns in his meetings with Cuban officials.
2. (C) Shearman said Michel had assured UKEU colleagues he
understood the need to emphasize the dual-track approach and
that he would raise human rights concerns while in Cuba.
Michel defended the timing of his visit to the British,
noting that it was important for an EU official to visit now
in order to "gauge the early thinking" of the Cuban
leadership post-Fidel, a defense that Shearman called "rather
self-justifying."
3. (C) Shearman stressed to Poloff that, Michel's visit
aside, the UK was looking forward to new EU thinking and
action on Cuba with Fidel's departure. The UK very much
wants the EU to act in coordination with the U.S. Government
on Cuba over coming months.
Visit London's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/london/index. cfm
TUTTLE
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR WHA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/04/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV EUN CU UK
SUBJECT: HMG HAS RAISED CONCERNS WITH EU COMMISSIONER
MICHEL OVER HIS CUBA VISIT
REF: STATE 20108
Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Maura Connelly for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C/NF) HMG agrees the upcoming visit of EU Commissioner
Louis Michel to Cuba is "not the smartest timing," and has
raised directly with Michel the importance of underscoring
the EU's dual-track policy, including meeting with civil
society, during the visit, according to Foreign Office EU
Correspondent Martin Shearman. In response to ref demarche,
Shearman told Poloff that although HMG could not stop an EU
Commissioner's trip, the UKEU Mission had raised with Michel
HMG concerns that he "stay on message" and underscore the
EU's dual-track policy during his visit. The UK had also
pressed Michel to meet with civil society representatives.
Shearman said that although the British had not specifically
pressed Michel to meet with the families of political
prisoners, London had emphasized the need for Michel to raise
human rights concerns in his meetings with Cuban officials.
2. (C) Shearman said Michel had assured UKEU colleagues he
understood the need to emphasize the dual-track approach and
that he would raise human rights concerns while in Cuba.
Michel defended the timing of his visit to the British,
noting that it was important for an EU official to visit now
in order to "gauge the early thinking" of the Cuban
leadership post-Fidel, a defense that Shearman called "rather
self-justifying."
3. (C) Shearman stressed to Poloff that, Michel's visit
aside, the UK was looking forward to new EU thinking and
action on Cuba with Fidel's departure. The UK very much
wants the EU to act in coordination with the U.S. Government
on Cuba over coming months.
Visit London's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/london/index. cfm
TUTTLE