U.S. POSITION FOR CHANGE IN CUBA: CHILE

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