CZECHS COMMENTS ON STATE OF PLAY WITHIN EU ON CUBA

C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAGUE 000341

SIPDIS

EUR/NCE FOR ATRATENSEK, EUR/ERA FOR NOTALLAH, WHA/CCA FOR
BWILLIAMS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/06/2013
TAGS: PREL CU EZ XG
SUBJECT: CZECHS COMMENTS ON STATE OF PLAY WITHIN EU ON CUBA

REF: A. WOHLERS-OTALLAH E-MAIL DATED 6.4

B. BRUSSELS 845

C. CARNIE-JOBIN WELCH E-MAIL DATED 6.4

D. CARNIE-OTALLAH E-MAIL DATED 6.3

E. CARNIE-DEAN E-MAIL DATED 5.27.08

F. PRAGUE 320

G. OTALLAH-CARNIE E-MAIL DATED 5.23.08

H. PRAGUE 289

I. PRAGUE 277

J. PRAGUE 246

Classified By: POLEC Counselor Michael Dodman for reasons 1.4 (b) and (
d).


1. (SBU) Summary: Czech officials, while maintaining their
strong commitment to advancing democratic change in Cuba as
well as the spotlight on political prisoners and human rights
issues on the island, face ever mounting pressure from within
the EU to support elimination of the "June Measures."
Following the June 3 EU COLAT meeting, the Czechs made
substantial comments on the "disappointing" draft document
regarding these measures prepared by the Slovene Presidency.
The Czechs plan to make their case, yet again, at the June 9
round of discussions in Brussels as to why these measures
should not be eliminated. While they have a fall back
position of what they would like to see adopted if the rest
of the EU supports lifting these measures, the Czechs do not
plan to allow this matter to be concluded on June 9 since
they will need to consult Foreign Minister Schwarzenberg, who
will be in the U.S. next week, before accepting any
compromises on this document. End Summary.

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Czechs Share USG Commitment to Democratic Change, But Making
No Headway within EU
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2. (SBU) The Czech perspective on how to promote democratic
change in Cuba dovetails closely with USG policy on Cuba and
the Czechs are actively engaged on a bilateral basis. The
Czechs remain skeptical about the "reforms" announced over
the last five months by Raul Castro, and the NGO People in
Need has prepared a report highlighting serious human rights
concerns during this period, which they discussed with NGOs
from around Europe gathering in Prague on June 4-6. The
Czech efforts to educate other EU member states, however,
have not swayed these members to follow the Czech lead.
Indeed, as discussions regarding the June Measures and
negotiations over the June 10 U.S.-EU summit declaration
demonstrate (Refs A - E),there is substantial EU member
state resistance to even reference Cuba in the Summit
declaration, let alone accept USG suggested language
underscoring a shared commitment and reference human rights
in Cuba.

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Trying to Leverage the Best Deal Possible, if...
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3. (C) In the eyes of the Czech MFA, the EU's "June
Measures," which directly linked EU punitive measures (limits
to bilateral high-level government visits, reduction in
profile of EU participation at Cuban cultural events,
invitations to Cuban dissidents at national day celebrations
and a re-evaluation of the EU Common Position) with
developments in Cuba regarding political prisoners, still
hold true and nothing merits revision. The Czechs, however,
are clearly not encouraged by the prospects for maintaining
these measures given the prevailing sentiment within the EU,
which they feel is stronger and more vocal than it was last
year. Czech MFA Cuba desk officer, Jarmila Povejsilova,
noted that the Czechs do not think the idea of a "framework"
to evaluate the EU-Cuba dialogue every year goes far enough
(since there are not benchmarks or caveats attached to this
dialogue). If the tide moves against them, the Czechs stated
their plan to press for references to contact with the
opposition, International Red Cross access to political
prisoners, and a requirement that EU high-level visitors to
Cuba meet with dissidents and discuss human rights concerns
with the regime. In late May, MFA Department of Human Rights
and Transition Policy Director Gabriela Dlouha, emphasized
that while Cuba has signed the "Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights," the Czechs would like to see the EU press
for this covenant to be ratified and implemented.

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Comment: High-Level Engagement Critical Over Next Few Months
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4. (C) While the Czechs are a key principled ally on Cuba,
and they are particularly active on this topic within the EU,
maneuvering and pressure from "influential member states"
over the next few days and weeks will be intense. We can
expect the Czechs will hold the line for as long as they
believe others are with them. If other key EU member states
fold, we can anticipate the Czechs will negotiate for the
best deal possible in terms of additional caveats or
conditions in return for lifting the measures. As the
Foreign Minister has been actively engaged on this matter, we
can anticipate that this will go right down to the GAERC on
June 16 before things are finalized.

ThompsonJones