Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08SANTIAGO188
2008-02-27 16:42:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Santiago
Cable title:
U.S. POSITION FOR CHANGE IN CUBA: CHILE
how-toVZCZCXYZ0008 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHSG #0188 0581642 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 271642Z FEB 08 FM AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2829 INFO RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 1955 RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 0190 RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 0811 RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 1673 RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ FEB LIMA 5461 RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO 3925 RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 1815 RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA CU 0003
C O N F I D E N T I A L SANTIAGO 000188
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/26/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL CU CI
SUBJECT: U.S. POSITION FOR CHANGE IN CUBA: CHILE
UNDERSTANDS BUT DON'T EXPECT PUBLIC AGREEMENT
REF: STATE 18323
Classified By: E/Pol Counselor Juan A. Alsace for reasons 1.4 (b) and (
d).
(C) E/Pol Counselor spoke February 27 with Ambassador Carlos
Appelgren, head of the MFA's Directorate for North America
and Caribbean Affairs, to discuss reftel demarche points.
Stressing the importance of having countries such as Chile
speak out publicly in support of the right of Cuba's people
themselves to decide on their future, E/Pol Counselor noted
that the "election" of Raul Castro on Sunday last certainly
did not meet that metric. The USG also asked that Chile urge
on the Cuban regime the prompt release of all political
prisoners. Applegren replied that "of course" Chile agreed
with the U.S. but preferred to continue its "discreet"
approach with Havana, arguing that "confrontation did not
work with the Cubans." E/Pol Counselor responded that "quiet
diplomacy" was not working and that public pressure was
necessary, to which Applegren could only shrug. Comment: Do
not expect Chile to veer far from the "non-confrontational"
approach it has favored with the Castro regime, especially as
the GOC considers a visit by Bachelet to the island sometime
in 2008. End comment.
URBAN
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/26/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL CU CI
SUBJECT: U.S. POSITION FOR CHANGE IN CUBA: CHILE
UNDERSTANDS BUT DON'T EXPECT PUBLIC AGREEMENT
REF: STATE 18323
Classified By: E/Pol Counselor Juan A. Alsace for reasons 1.4 (b) and (
d).
(C) E/Pol Counselor spoke February 27 with Ambassador Carlos
Appelgren, head of the MFA's Directorate for North America
and Caribbean Affairs, to discuss reftel demarche points.
Stressing the importance of having countries such as Chile
speak out publicly in support of the right of Cuba's people
themselves to decide on their future, E/Pol Counselor noted
that the "election" of Raul Castro on Sunday last certainly
did not meet that metric. The USG also asked that Chile urge
on the Cuban regime the prompt release of all political
prisoners. Applegren replied that "of course" Chile agreed
with the U.S. but preferred to continue its "discreet"
approach with Havana, arguing that "confrontation did not
work with the Cubans." E/Pol Counselor responded that "quiet
diplomacy" was not working and that public pressure was
necessary, to which Applegren could only shrug. Comment: Do
not expect Chile to veer far from the "non-confrontational"
approach it has favored with the Castro regime, especially as
the GOC considers a visit by Bachelet to the island sometime
in 2008. End comment.
URBAN