Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08PARIS1886
2008-10-15 14:05:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Paris
Cable title:
CUBA ALSO BLOCKS FRENCH BILATERAL HURRICANE
how-toVZCZCXRO6178 OO RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHFR #1886 2891405 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 151405Z OCT 08 FM AMEMBASSY PARIS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4512 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS 2408 RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA 0106 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 001886
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/14/2018
TAGS: EAID PREL CU FR
SUBJECT: CUBA ALSO BLOCKS FRENCH BILATERAL HURRICANE
DISASTER RELIEF
REF: A. SECSTATE 105422
B. BRUSSELS 01589
Classified By: PolMC Kathleen H. Allegrone for reasons 1.4 (B & D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 001886
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/14/2018
TAGS: EAID PREL CU FR
SUBJECT: CUBA ALSO BLOCKS FRENCH BILATERAL HURRICANE
DISASTER RELIEF
REF: A. SECSTATE 105422
B. BRUSSELS 01589
Classified By: PolMC Kathleen H. Allegrone for reasons 1.4 (B & D).
1. (C) The United States is not the only country or group of
countries whose aide has been refused by Havana after a
series of deadly hurricanes ravaged the Caribbean nation (ref
a),said French MFA desk officer Anne Suard. Suard told
poloff on October 14 the Cuban government is still
retaliating after the EU imposed sanctions on the Caribbean
nation in 2003, even though those sanctions were
conditionally lifted this past June. The only emergency aide
flowing into Cuba has been through Spanish and Belgium NGOs
currently operating there, although Suard clarified that no
direct bilateral aide had been sent from either of these two
countries. Suard noted that the GOF, as EU president, takes
a pragmatic approach to relations with Cuba. She observed
since the EU lifted sanctions no additional changes are
likely in EU policy until a review of Cuba's progress on
political and economic reforms is completed. On these issues
and more, Suard opined that the GOC acts like a "spoiled
child" to the detriment of its own people.
2. (C) In advance of an EU and Cuba scheduled dialogue in
Paris on October 16 (ref b),FM Kouchner has urged the EU
through the GAERC to set markers for a continued dialogue on
human rights, to support the transition to democracy, and to
cooperate in areas such as education and culture. Suard
noted the possibility that issues regarding emergency aide to
Cuba would be addressed on October 16 as well. To facilitate
an effective transition to the Czech Presidency of the EU,
Suard noted the GOF was already collaborating well with Czech
Republic diplomats who would take the lead on these issues in
January 2009. At that time, Suard noted France would remain
bilaterally engaged with only a handful of countries in Latin
America, including Venezuela, Brazil and Mexico.
STAPLETON
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/14/2018
TAGS: EAID PREL CU FR
SUBJECT: CUBA ALSO BLOCKS FRENCH BILATERAL HURRICANE
DISASTER RELIEF
REF: A. SECSTATE 105422
B. BRUSSELS 01589
Classified By: PolMC Kathleen H. Allegrone for reasons 1.4 (B & D).
1. (C) The United States is not the only country or group of
countries whose aide has been refused by Havana after a
series of deadly hurricanes ravaged the Caribbean nation (ref
a),said French MFA desk officer Anne Suard. Suard told
poloff on October 14 the Cuban government is still
retaliating after the EU imposed sanctions on the Caribbean
nation in 2003, even though those sanctions were
conditionally lifted this past June. The only emergency aide
flowing into Cuba has been through Spanish and Belgium NGOs
currently operating there, although Suard clarified that no
direct bilateral aide had been sent from either of these two
countries. Suard noted that the GOF, as EU president, takes
a pragmatic approach to relations with Cuba. She observed
since the EU lifted sanctions no additional changes are
likely in EU policy until a review of Cuba's progress on
political and economic reforms is completed. On these issues
and more, Suard opined that the GOC acts like a "spoiled
child" to the detriment of its own people.
2. (C) In advance of an EU and Cuba scheduled dialogue in
Paris on October 16 (ref b),FM Kouchner has urged the EU
through the GAERC to set markers for a continued dialogue on
human rights, to support the transition to democracy, and to
cooperate in areas such as education and culture. Suard
noted the possibility that issues regarding emergency aide to
Cuba would be addressed on October 16 as well. To facilitate
an effective transition to the Czech Presidency of the EU,
Suard noted the GOF was already collaborating well with Czech
Republic diplomats who would take the lead on these issues in
January 2009. At that time, Suard noted France would remain
bilaterally engaged with only a handful of countries in Latin
America, including Venezuela, Brazil and Mexico.
STAPLETON