CUBA: CZECHS SHARE US POSITION ON EU COMMISSIONER

UNCLAS PRAGUE 000138 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL CU EZ EUN SUBJECT: CUBA: CZECHS SHARE US POSITION ON EU COMMISSIONER MICHEL'S VISIT REF: STATE 20108 (SBU) In response to Charge's points on the proposed March 6-7 visit of EU Commissioner Louis Michel to Cuba, Czech MFA Department of the Americas Director, Katerina Fialkova, indicated that the Czechs share our reservations and they too would prefer that Michel not travel there at this time. She noted, however, that the Commissioners are not constrained by the opinions of the EU member states since it is their prerogative to travel where and when they see fit. Nonetheless, the Czechs have repeatedly made clear that it is imperative for all high-level EU visits to Cuba to highlight the situation of dissidents, political prisoners and the political opposition. While Cuba is not on the agenda of the EU COLAT (EU Committee on Latin America) scheduled for March 3 and 4, Fialkova anticipates that Michel's trip/agenda is likely to be discussed nevertheless by the EU member states under the last item of any other business. Thompson-Jones