VISIT TO SPAIN OF ELSA MOREJON, WIFE OF CUBAN

UNCLAS MADRID 000283 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA A/S SHANNON COMMERCE FOR SECRETARY GUTIERREZ AND AMBASSADOR LINO GUTIERREZ E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PHUM CU SP SUBJECT: VISIT TO SPAIN OF ELSA MOREJON, WIFE OF CUBAN DISSIDENT OSCAR BISCET ¶1. (U) Elsa Morejon, wife of imprisoned Cuban dissident and Presidential Medal of Freedom winner Oscar Biscet, visited Spain March 4-7. Although the visit was unexpected (her arrival was not confirmed until a few hours before her flight to Madrid),we are convinced it was useful and important. Ms. Morejon, accompanied by Lawton Foundation Vice President Dr. Angel Garrido, met with MFA Secretary of State Trinidad Jimenez and Director General for Iberoamerica Javier Sandomingo, former President Aznar, and Amnesty International. She also gave two interviews with Spanish media (ABC and Epoca). By happy coincidence, Ms. Morejon, who along with Dr. Garrido was a guest at the Ambassador's residence, was able to participate in a previously scheduled meeting the Ambassador held with members of the Cuban dissident community, including four recently released dissidents (Pedro Pablo Alvarez Ramos, Omar Pernet Hernandez, Jose Gabriel Ramon Castillo, and Alejandro Gonzalez Raga) who arrived in Spain February 17. Ms. Morejon was also able to renew her visa here for her return trip to the U.S. ¶2. (SBU) Ms. Morejon related that in an hour-long meeting Jimenez said Spain had raised her husband's case with the GOC twice (most recently in the February 11 installment of the two governments' human rights dialogue) and promised that Spain would do so again in June. Following his meeting with Ms. Morejon, Aznar released a statement affirming his interest in Dr. Biscet's case and his "total support" for Ms. Morejon. The daily ABC carried a lengthy interview with Ms. Morejon which stressed the incongruity of the GOC signing human rights agreements while keeping Dr. Biscet and other political prisoners behind bars. AGUIRRE