READOUT OF EU LATIN AMERICAN WORKING GROUP FROM

C O N F I D E N T I A L USEU BRUSSELS 000845

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/02/2018
TAGS: PREL CU EUN
SUBJECT: READOUT OF EU LATIN AMERICAN WORKING GROUP FROM
CZECHS

Classified By: Lawrence Wohlers USEU Minister Counselor for
Political Affairs, for reasons 1.4. (B) and (D)


1. Deputy Pol Minister Counselor and PolOff met with
Veronika Bajgarova, Deputy Director of American States at the
Czech MFA, Jarmila Povejsilova, desk officer in the
Department of the Americas, and Katerina Beckova from the
Czech Perm Rep this afternoon following today's meeting of
the Latin American Working group (COLAT). Bajgarova was
surprised by the momentum for lifting the suspended
restrictive measures against Cuba. She said the discussion
had moved beyond whether to lift them to a debate over how
and when they would be lifted. The argument from the
Spanish-led side, with support from the French and Italians,
is that the sanctions are not accomplishing their stated
goals of advancing democracy, and are making implementation
of the common position impossible. Cuba will not allow
visiting officials to talk to civil society or dissidents as
long as the measures are in place, preventing any track II
diplomacy and limiting track I to a handful of states.


2. Bajgarova said Sweden, Denmark, Hungary and the UK are
all fighting for a compromise document that provides specific
benchmarks that the Cubans will have to reach if political
dialogue is reopened with them. The areas of focus are
release of political prisoners, public access to information,
freedom for the EU to pursue track II diplomacy, and
ratification of the ICCPR. If a dialogue is begun, the
Czechs also want to insure that it is unconditional as to
content and countries -- the Cubans must agree to speak with
all Member States (MS) and must allow discussion of all
topics.


3. Along with discussing the Cuban common position, COLAT
brought up the issue of Cuba language in the U.S. -EU Summit
declaration. Some members suggested a trade; they will allow
Cuba language in the summit document if and only if the
suspended measures are lifted. Lifting the measures was
apparently a condition for political dialogue set out by the
Cubans during last year's Troika meetings with the EU on the
margins of UNGA. Bajgarova pointed out that the COTRA was
unable to come to agreement on this issue, so the item has
been referred to the COREPER.


4. Bajgarova emphasized that the Czech position had not
changed, and both for internal political reasons and personal
reasons their Minister of Foreign Affairs was opposed to
lifting the suspended measures until real political change
has taken place. She noted the final decision would be taken
by the minister. While she said many times that the Czech
delegation is feeling isolated on this issue, she pointed out
that the Polish Minister for Foreign Affairs is a potential
ally on this issue, due to his strong anti-Communism, even
though the Foreign Ministry itself may be more inclined to
favor lifting the sanctions. However, in a follow-on private
conversation, Beckova doubted the Poles would stand with them
and noted once again that the Czechs are under intense
pressure. Bajgarova said the UK may also end up supporting
the Czech position; the decision will be made at the
Ministerial meeting.


5. Bajgarova is returning to Prague tonight, to brief her
Minister before his trip to the US later this week. Whether
the COLAT votes to lift these measures depends largely on the
text being drafted by the Slovene presidency. The Slovenes
should have a draft to MS tonight, and MS are supposed to
return with comments from capitals by Friday.


6. COMMENT: The procedures here are complicated. The Cuba
restrictive measures question is handled by COLAT and then
the PSC. The summit do