Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09HAVANA508
2009-08-19 20:33:00
CONFIDENTIAL
US Interests Section Havana
Cable title:  

BEHIND THE SCENES WITH THE USCCB AND CUBAN

Tags:  PREL PHUM CU 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO7090
RR RUEHROV
DE RUEHUB #0508 2312033
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 192033Z AUG 09 ZDK
FM USINT HAVANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4691
INFO RUEHROV/AMEMBASSY VATICAN 0159
RUCOWCV/CCGDSEVEN MIAMI FL
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUCOGCA/COMNAVBASE GUANTANAMO BAY CU
C O N F I D E N T I A L HAVANA 000508 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/19/2019
TAGS: PREL PHUM CU
SUBJECT: BEHIND THE SCENES WITH THE USCCB AND CUBAN
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT ALARCON

Classified By: COM JONATHAN FARRAR FOR REASONS 1.4 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L HAVANA 000508

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/19/2019
TAGS: PREL PHUM CU
SUBJECT: BEHIND THE SCENES WITH THE USCCB AND CUBAN
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT ALARCON

Classified By: COM JONATHAN FARRAR FOR REASONS 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) USINT COM and P/E officers met August 17 with a
visiting U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)
delegation (Boston Cardinal Sean O'Malley, Orlando Bishop
Thomas Wenski, San Antonio Auxiliary Bishop Oscar Cantu, and
USCCB staffer Father Andrew Small) on its first day in
Havana. USINT was able to brief the delegation on a number
of issues and clarify several misconceptions on their part,
including their belief the Department had never issued any
visas to family members of the "Cuban Five." The delegation
invited the COM to travel with some of them later in the week
to Holguin and Guantanamo to view Caritas' hurricane relief
efforts, and said they would raise the issue of travel
restrictions in their meeting with Cuban National Assembly
President Ricardo Alarcon.


2. (C) The delegation members (please protect) later
provided a readout to the COM on their meeting with Alarcon.
According to Bishop Wenski, Alarcon was extremely positive in
his remarks regarding Caritas and its aosQwdFuban
Five's relatives than he had anticipated.


4. (C) Finally, Cardinal O'Malley said he raised the issue
of USINT travel with the delegation to Holguin and
Guantanamo, and that Alarcon had asked when that would be.
When O'Malley replied, "tomorrow," Alarcon's response
reportedly was, "you must really believe in miracles."


5. (C) Comment. While press coverage of the USCCB focused
on their remarks regarding the trade embargo, we appreciate
the delegation raising the issues of political prisoners and
travel restrictions even if only during private meetings. It
is helpful to have the GOC hear such messages from third
parties other than the USG. The delegation's report on
Alarcon's remarks on Caritas track with what we have heard
here about the GOC's view from Cardinal Ortega and others,
and from Caritas itself. End Comment.
FARRAR