Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08MADRID237
2008-03-03 12:53:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Madrid
Cable title:
DEMARCHE: DISCOURAGING EU DEVELOPMENT
how-toVZCZCXYZ0034 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHMD #0237 0631253 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 031253Z MAR 08 FM AMEMBASSY MADRID TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4382 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA 0257
C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 000237
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR WHA/CCA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/03/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL EUN CU
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE: DISCOURAGING EU DEVELOPMENT
COMMISSIONER'S VISIT TO CUBA
REF: STATE 20108
CLASSIFIED BY: ACTING DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION JOSIE SHUMAKE, REASONS
C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 000237
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR WHA/CCA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/03/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL EUN CU
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE: DISCOURAGING EU DEVELOPMENT
COMMISSIONER'S VISIT TO CUBA
REF: STATE 20108
CLASSIFIED BY: ACTING DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION JOSIE SHUMAKE, REASONS 1.
4(B),(D).
1. (C) POLCOUNS DELIVERED REFTEL DEMARCHE MARCH 3 TO MFA
DIRECTOR GENERAL FOR IBEROAMERICA JAVIER SANDOMINGO, URGING
THE GOS TO REINFORCE THE MESSAGE THAT EU DEVELOPMENT AND
HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE COMMISSIONER MICHEL'S VISIT TO CUBA
WAS INOPPORTUNE, AND, IF THE VISIT WENT FORWARD, MICHEL
SHOULD MEET WITH DISSIDENTS AND CIVIL SOCIETY AND EMPHASIZE
TO THE GOC THE IMPORTANCE OF RELEASING OF ALL POLITICAL
PRISONERS.
2. (C) SANDOMINGO SAID MICHEL WAS DETERMINED TO MAKE THIS
VISIT AND THE GOS COULD NOT CHANGE HIS MIND. HE SAID THE GOS
FOCUS WAS ON MICHEL'S MESSAGE. WHILE THEY WERE NOT OVERLY
WORRIED BY MICHEL'S VISIT, THEY DID SEE IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY
TO LET THE GOC KNOW THAT THE RECENT EVENTS IN CUBA HAD BEEN
DISAPPOINTING. SANDOMINGO SAID THEY HAD URGED MICHEL TO
FOLLOW THE TWO-TRACK POLICY AND INSIST ON SOME SORT OF
ENGAGEMENT WITH THE OPPOSITION EVEN IF THE GOC RESISTED.
MORE BROADLY, SANDOMINGO SAID THIS WAS A MOMENT OF CONFUSION
IN CUBA AND THAT EU COOPERATION SHOULD RESUME BUT ON THE SAME
TERMS AS GOS ENGAGEMENT, WHICH HE DESCRIBED AS INCLUDING THE
CHANCE TO WORK WITH FIGURES OUTSIDE THE GOC.
AGUIRRE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR WHA/CCA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/03/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL EUN CU
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE: DISCOURAGING EU DEVELOPMENT
COMMISSIONER'S VISIT TO CUBA
REF: STATE 20108
CLASSIFIED BY: ACTING DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION JOSIE SHUMAKE, REASONS 1.
4(B),(D).
1. (C) POLCOUNS DELIVERED REFTEL DEMARCHE MARCH 3 TO MFA
DIRECTOR GENERAL FOR IBEROAMERICA JAVIER SANDOMINGO, URGING
THE GOS TO REINFORCE THE MESSAGE THAT EU DEVELOPMENT AND
HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE COMMISSIONER MICHEL'S VISIT TO CUBA
WAS INOPPORTUNE, AND, IF THE VISIT WENT FORWARD, MICHEL
SHOULD MEET WITH DISSIDENTS AND CIVIL SOCIETY AND EMPHASIZE
TO THE GOC THE IMPORTANCE OF RELEASING OF ALL POLITICAL
PRISONERS.
2. (C) SANDOMINGO SAID MICHEL WAS DETERMINED TO MAKE THIS
VISIT AND THE GOS COULD NOT CHANGE HIS MIND. HE SAID THE GOS
FOCUS WAS ON MICHEL'S MESSAGE. WHILE THEY WERE NOT OVERLY
WORRIED BY MICHEL'S VISIT, THEY DID SEE IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY
TO LET THE GOC KNOW THAT THE RECENT EVENTS IN CUBA HAD BEEN
DISAPPOINTING. SANDOMINGO SAID THEY HAD URGED MICHEL TO
FOLLOW THE TWO-TRACK POLICY AND INSIST ON SOME SORT OF
ENGAGEMENT WITH THE OPPOSITION EVEN IF THE GOC RESISTED.
MORE BROADLY, SANDOMINGO SAID THIS WAS A MOMENT OF CONFUSION
IN CUBA AND THAT EU COOPERATION SHOULD RESUME BUT ON THE SAME
TERMS AS GOS ENGAGEMENT, WHICH HE DESCRIBED AS INCLUDING THE
CHANCE TO WORK WITH FIGURES OUTSIDE THE GOC.
AGUIRRE