Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08PRAGUE138
2008-02-29 12:43:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Prague
Cable title:
CUBA: CZECHS SHARE US POSITION ON EU COMMISSIONER
how-toVZCZCXRO1224 RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHPG #0138 0601243 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 291243Z FEB 08 FM AMEMBASSY PRAGUE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0112 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA 0102
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
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