MAY 21: DAY OF SOLIDARITY WITH THE CUBAN PEOPLE

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000456 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CCA, WHA/BSC, WHA/ E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KDEM PHUM PREL CU CI SUBJECT: MAY 21: DAY OF SOLIDARITY WITH THE CUBAN PEOPLE REFTEL: A) STATE 51536 B) SANTIAGO 412 C) STATE 46997 D) STATE 45792 ¶1. (U) In response to reftel A request, Post provides the following activities to promote Cuba Solidarity Day: --DVC with a senior USG official and Chilean media to highlight Cuba Solidarity Day, and increase awareness in Chile about the plight of Cuba's prisoners of conscience and drum up support for democracy in Cuba (Note: Post is coordinating with WHA/PDA.); --Host on the Embassy's radio show (broadcasted on over 100 Chilean radio stations throughout the country) international affairs commentator Libardo Buitrago and Julio Cesar Montes (a Cuban exile residing in Chile) to discuss the political situation in Cuba; --Provide Chilean Congress, political parties, think tanks, NGOs and government officials information on Cuba Solidarity Day, and encourage them to highlight it; --Place an op-ed in Chilean print media. -- Provide Chilean media an information packet on Cuba Solidarity Day; and, --Post on the Embassy website USG events and activities in support of Cuba Solidarity Day. ¶2. (SBU) One Foreign Ministry official recently reiterated to Poloff that the Chilean government is not planning to promote Cuba Solidarity Day (ref. b). ¶3. (U) Post reminds the Department that May 21 is a national holiday in Chile. Therefore, Post will make every effort to undertake these activities before this date. URBAN