Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09LISBON378
2009-07-16 11:52:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Lisbon
Cable title:  

PORTUGUESE DEPUTY FORMIN'S VISIT TO CUBA

Tags:  PREL XM CU PO 
pdf how-to read a cable
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PP RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHROV RUEHSL RUEHSR
DE RUEHLI #0378/01 1971152
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 161152Z JUL 09
FM AMEMBASSY LISBON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7746
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS
RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA 0056
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.

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