COMMERCE SECRETARY GUTIERREZ AND U/S DOBRIANSKY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 106944

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/08/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL EUN CU
SUBJECT: COMMERCE SECRETARY GUTIERREZ AND U/S DOBRIANSKY
SEPTEMBER 23 MEETING ON CUBA WITH EU

Classified By: EUR/ERA ACTING DIRECTOR N. DEAN. REASONS 1.4(b) and (d)


1. (SBU) Summary: Under Secretary for Democracy and Global
Affairs Paula Dobriansky and Secretary of Commerce Carlos
Gutierrez co-hosted a discussion on Cuba with senior EU
officials in New York on September 23, on the margins of this
year,s UNGA. Discussion focused on hurricane relief
assistance and developments on the EU Benchmarks established
in June. Dobriansky and Gutierrez urged the Europeans to
continue coordinating among themselves and with the U.S. in
supporting Cuban civil society,s demands for greater
freedom. End summary.

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Hurricane Relief
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2. (SBU) Secretary Gutierrez briefed the group on the U.S.
offers of aid to Cuba in the wake of the recent hurricanes,
noting that our goals were both to meet the urgent
humanitarian needs, and to demonstrate U.S. solidarity with
the Cuban people. The most recent offer (made September 19)
was awaiting a response from the Cubans, and included
shipments of building materials (an item Cuba has asked to
purchase on credit). In response to questions on the ability
of Cuba to buy products from the U.S., Gutierrez emphasized
that the U.S. offer of assistance was unprecedented and
without conditions. Although Cuba can and indeed does buy
agricultural products from the U.S. (i.e. food and lumber) on
a cash basis, the U.S. had made a substantial, unconditional
offer to donate the materials directly to the Cuban
government.


3. (SBU) Slovakian FM Kubis applauded U.S. efforts to reach
out to Cuba and confirmed Slovakia had contacted the GOC
bi-laterally. Kubis suggested that EU countries with good
relations with Cuba (e.g. Spain) might assist in funneling
aid into Cuba, and also suggested they work with NGOs and the
UN. Polish Under Secretary Schnepf said that the GOC had
only accepted hurricane aid from Spain and Belgium to date,
despite offers from several other EU countries. Hungarian
State Secretary Varkonyi reported the same. EU Commission
Director General Manservisi acknowledged that the Cubans had
yet to respond to the EU offer of assistance, but still held
out hope that the government would accept the aid, and said
the Commission remained in touch with the Cuban authorities
to discuss needs on the island.


4. (SBU) When asked if the U.S. would consider lifting the
embargo, Gutierrez restated the importance of separating
policy from humanitarian aid. With respect to the extent of
the damage, Gutierrez noted the U.S. lacked tangible facts on
the ground, and asked that the U.S. and European partners
share information provided by credible assessments.
Dobriansky added that it would also be worthwhile to
coordinate relief efforts among the various diplomatic
missions in Havana.


5. (C) Ambassador Vimont asked if others had noticed the
contrast in public appearances between Fidel and Raul Castro
during the hurricane aftermath. Vimont wondered how people
perceived the difference. Secretary Gutierrez speculated on
the limited public appearances by Raul Castro and suggested
it was a new experience for the Cuban people.

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EU Benchmarks
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6. (SBU) EU Commission DG for Development Stefan Manservisi
confirmed that the GOC has agreed to accept a dialogue on all
political issues. Although the EU has not set the structural
agenda, Manservisi hoped there would be a ministerial level
meeting before the end of the year, so that the benchmarks
could be evaluated on schedule in June 2009. According to
Manservisi, the goals of the dialogue are to foment the
political discussions at the ministerial level, and to start
developmental cooperation with the GOC. The Commission is
scheduled to meet again with the Cuban government in Havana
next month.


7. (C) However, French Ambassador Vimont cautioned that a
Ministerial may not be possible during the current French EU
Presidency. He cited two concerns - first, the Cubans have
proposed a series of principles as a framework for moving
forward with the dialogue, in contrast to the EU proposal to

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pursue low profile, practical issues. Secondly, the GOC has
delayed the process by responding slowly to the initial offer
for dialogue, and to other EU overtures.


8. (C) Danish State Secretary Federspiel noted the need for
human rights to be at the center of the political dialogue,
and reiterated the council,s decision to have a two track
policy that engaged Cuban civil society in addition to the
government. He emphasized that EU members needed to be free
to talk to NGOs and other members of civil society. A/S
Kramer stated he was heartened to hear human rights would be
central to discussions, and urged the EU to keep all human
rights issues -- including repression of journalists,
political prisoners, and ICRC visits -- on the table to avoid
allowing the GOC to "cherry pick" issues.


9. (C) U/S Dobriansky suggested that, in terms of practical
matters where the U.S. and EU could coordinate, there is an
opportunity to coordinate through our missions in Havana to
provide civil society with unfettered access to the internet.
Gutierrez and Dobriansky both thanked the group for their
continued engagement on Cuban human rights, and urged they
continue to spotlight abuses, noting that the international
outcry on the arrest of popular musician Gorky Avila helped
lead to his release.
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COMMENT
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10. (C) The high level discussion afforded an opportunity to
brief the EU on US efforts to provide hurricane relief to
the Cuban people and offered insight on potential dividing
lines among the EU as they engage the Cubans on political
dialogue. End Comment.


11. (SBU) Participants: USG: Secretary of Commerce Carlos
Gutierrez, U/S Paula Dobriansky, A/S David Kramer, CAFC
Transition Coordinator Caleb McCarry, EUR/ERA Office Director
Bill Lucas, Commerce Advisor Sean Reilly, G Senior Advisor
Joaquin Ferrao, and EUR/ERA Elizabeth Konick (notetaker).


12. (SBU) Participants: EU: Czech Deputy Foreign Minister
Jan Kohout, Danish State Secretary Ulrik Federspiel, EU
Commission Director General Stefano Manservisi, French
Ambassador Pierre Vimont, Finish Director General Pilvi-Sisko
Vierros, Greek Ambassador Alexandros P. Mallias, Hungarian
State Secretary Lszl Vrkonyi, Latvian Under Secretary
Edgars Skuja, Luxembourg Political Director Stephan Muller,
Malta Political Director John Inguanez, Polish Under
Secretary Ryszard Schnepf, Romanian Perm. Rep. To the U.N.
Simona-Mirela Miculescu, Slovenian Director General Anita
Pipan, Slovak Foreign Minister Jan Kubis, Slovak Advisor (to
the PM) Pavol Hamzik, and Swedish Director General Bjorn
Lyrvall.
RICE