PORTUGUESE DEPUTY FORMIN'S VISIT TO CUBA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LISBON 000378 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/16/2019 TAGS: PREL XM CU PO SUBJECT: PORTUGUESE DEPUTY FORMIN'S VISIT TO CUBA LISBON 00000378 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: POL/ECON COUNSELOR RICHARD REITER FOR 1.4 B,D. ¶1. (C) On July 15, Pedro Carneiro, the Legal Advisor to Portuguese MFA number two, Secretary of State Joao Cravinho, gave P/E Counselor a readout of a trip to Cuba that he and Cravinho made on June 30-July 1. This was the first senior Portuguese visit to Cuba in several years and was a response to a Cuban invitation in the wake of former Cuban ForMin Roque's visit to Lisbon in March 2007. ¶2. (C) Carneiro pointed out that Portugal enjoys "normal" relations with Cuba and is generally aligned with the Spanish position in EU discussions. He and Secretary of State Cravinho had two key meetings during the trip, the first a long, substantive discussion with Deputy ForMin Dagoberto Barrera, and the second a courtesy call on ForMin Bruno Parrilla. Parrilla's style, Carneiro told us, was animated and emotional, while Barrera was much more reserved. Both of the MFA meetings were "cordial" and inter alia resulted in the signing of minor agreements on cultural, tourist, education, and scientific exchanges. THE EU COMMON POSITION -------------- ¶3. (C) The conversation with FM Parrilla touched on bilateral issues, Honduras, Chavez's ALBA project, and Cuban/EU relations. In both meetings, the Cubans criticized the EU Common Position on Cuba as "discriminatory" and "conditioned", with Parrilla complaining that it "prevents dialogue" between Cuba and Europe. Parrilla insisted that Cuba seeks dialogue and respect from the EU, but one without pre-conditions. Cravinho admitted that the Common Position can evolve -- but only when Cuba "sends positive signals" to the EU, for example on human rights. Cravinho suggested that such signals might include allowing ICRC to visit Cuban prisons, abolishing the death penalty, and "ratifying certain social and economic protocols". US/CUBA RELATIONS -------------- ¶4. (C) Both Parrilla and Barrera offered views on Cuba's relations with the US, as Barrera affirmed that Havana sees relations with the US as very important and acknowledged that President Obama is making good on campaign pledges regarding Cuba. He said that it is important that the US/Cuban dialogue be "among equals" and suggested that dialogue could start on topics such as trafficking in persons, drug smuggling and responding to natural disasters. Barrera commented that the tone of rhetoric between Washington and Havana has improved, though he complained that "Washington calls us a terrorist state". Barrera said that Cuba is awaiting "gestures" from the US such as easing the embargo -- adding that if the US Congress approves visits of US citizens to Cuba, within two years there would be a dramatic improvement in bilateral relations. Carneiro told us that the both officials made several positive comments regarding the Obama administration's approach to Cuba, but each time followed it with a critical remark. CARDINAL ORTEGA -------------- ¶5. (C) Cravinho also met with Havana's archbishop, Cardinal Jaime Ortega. He characterized Ortega as "someone who is neither pro- nor anti-regime, but who walks a middle ground in Havana". But the comments he ascribed to the cardinal track closely with those of Barrera and Parrilla. Ortega emphasized that the international community must not isolate Cuba, because the government is "very sensitive to these gestures". However, Ortega said, the Cuban government is "receptive to dialogue" and "positive interactions work better than tough talk and sanctions". Ortega added that if the US were to lift the embargo, it would be well-received in Havana. COMMENT -------------- ¶6. (C) The Portuguese MFA periodically provides us readouts after visits to places like Moscow, Tehran, and Caracas, so this briefing was not out of the ordinary. But the fact that it came two weeks after the visit and that our interlocutor was referring to notes that were carefully formatted suggests that his remarks were vetted for our ears. We note that Secretary of State Cravinho pushed back only mildly against Cuban criticism of the EU Common Policy, and did so without mentioning political prisoners or press freedoms, for example. We also note that the Cubans repeatedly expressed their eagerness to see the embargo eased and US tourists begin to visit the island. Carneiro explained to us that "Cuba requires patience" and "change will come slowly". ¶7. (C) Carneiro said that while the Portuguese did not meet LISBON 00000378 002.2 OF 002 with Fidel, they very much noted his influence, saying he is "pulling strings backstage". With Raul caught between old-school dinosaurs and younger liberalizing influences, the Portuguese do not anticipate dramatic changes in the short to medium-term. Carneiro also noted with surprise that none of the Cuban interlocutors mentioned the Cuban Five, convicted in 2001 of espionage in the US. Portugal, he said, has often heard Cuban contacts plea for the release of their "heroes" -- but not this time. For more reporting from Embassy Lisbon and information about Portugal, please see our Intelink site: http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/portal:port ugal BALLARD