CROATIAN AMBASSADOR DOWNPLAYS MESIC VISIT TO CUBA

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 000983

SIPDIS

WHA FOR A/S TOM SHANNON, ACTING DAS BISA WILLIAMS
RICARDO ZUNIGA, WHA/CCA
EUR/WE FOR ALEXANDRA MCKNIGHT AND STACIE ZERDECKI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/08/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL CU SP CR
SUBJECT: CROATIAN AMBASSADOR DOWNPLAYS MESIC VISIT TO CUBA

REF: HAVANA 592

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Arnold A. Chacon for reasons 1.4(b) an
d (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: Croatian Ambassador to Spain Neven
Pelicaric took great pains October 1 to downplay the
significance of Croatian President Mesic's visit to Cuba the
week of September 16, the third since his election in 2005.
During a one-on-one lunch meeting, Pelicaric urged the USG
not to take the media hype at face value. He was eager to
let the USG know that he personally considered the visit to
have "zero value" and the Croats were somewhat embarrassed by
Cuba's red carpet treatment. Pelicaric, who is also
accredited to Cuba, accompanied Mesic and conveyed to the
Charge that the Cubans harped on the U.S. embargo, that the
"Miami 5" were an ever-present theme, and that Cuba expected
the EU to end its Common Position on Cuba. The Charge
pressed Pelicaric hard on human rights issues and the need to
maintain pressure on the regime for democratic reforms,
including the release of political prisoners. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) Ambassador Pelicaric said the Cubans played up
Mesic's visit because it was the first visit by a European
leader to Cuba in quite some time. He made special mention
of Vice FM Dagoberto Rodriguez, declaring he was a key figure
during the visit and, according to Pelicaric, a key player in
the regime, more influential than the Foreign Minister. Both
Rodriguez and Cuban President Raul Castro attended a private
dinner hosted by the Croatian President.

3. (C) Mesic had earlier been scheduled to visit Cuba in
November or December 2008 but had postponed his trip,
ostensibly because he wanted the political cover of going as
a "lame duck." Pelicaric conceded the Croatian press had
been "very hard" on them for undertaking the visit, which
Pelicaric justified as partly "payback" for Cuba,s support
of Croatia against the Czech Republic for a seat on the UNSC.
The Croatian FM did not accompany Mesic because he did not
want it to impact negatively on his election campaign. Mesic
and Pelicaric were joined instead by the president's
granddaughter, the president's political advisor, and a
Croatian business delegation.


4. (C) With the exception of a visit at the request of
President Mesic to a Che Guevara memorial and museum in Santa
Clara, the visit was totally scripted by the Cubans and
Croatian access was very controlled. Asked whether they had
met with civil society or discussed human rights, Pelicaric
told Charge it would neither have been "appropriate" to see
dissidents nor to discuss political prisoners during an
official visit. The Charge expressed surprise the Croats had
not seen members of civil society and reminded Pelicaric of
U.S. and international efforts to keep human rights at the
forefront of discussions with Cuba. He noted that USG
officials visiting Cuba continued to reach out to civil
society whether or not condoned by the regime, and reiterated
the importance of European democratic governments pressing
for freedoms in Cuba and supporting civil society. Pelicaric
noted their visit coincided with that of DAS Bisa Williams
(reftel),and inquired whether USG views on Cuba had changed.
The Charge clarified that U.S. outreach to Cuba and efforts
to shift the discussion in a more positive direction,
including the direct mail talks, also included sustained
calls for respect for human rights and the release of
political prisoners.


5. (C) Despite the VIP welcome and packed program of events
and signings, Pelicaric observed the Croats' visit was mostly
"feel good" stuff of "zero value." Croatia and Cuba signed a
cultural cooperation agreement touching on Croatian-Cuban
cinema exchanges, visits, higher education, sports, and
music. Pelicaric opined such non-substantive exchanges were
"all we could do" and said the Croatians had caveated all
agreements by noting they had to conform to EU standards
given Croatia's expected EU accession. Other areas of
discussion included proposed cooperation on tourism,
expansion and development of Cuba's fishing fleet, and
non-monetary development assistance. Pelicaric described
Cuba as a poor, "pathetic" country but he nonetheless was
impressed with its advanced health care, pointing to an eye
clinic the delegation visited.


6. (C) According to Pelicaric, the Cubans revisited several
themes throughout the visit. They spoke often of the U.S.
embargo and portrayed President Obama as having good
intentions but captive to the U.S. political system. The
Cubans also dwelt heavily on the EU's Common Position,
seeking Croatian support for its elimination and saying they
were looking to the GOS and FM Moratinos to end it during
Spain's EU presidency. Pelicaric told the Charge he had seen
images everywhere of the so-called "Miami 5" and suggested
the United States might consider their use as leverage in
securing release of political prisoners. The Charge asserted
the convicted spies were not equivalent morally or in any
other way to prisoners of conscience. In reviewing
significant steps by the USG, he added that, despite our
overtures for a more constructive relationship with Cuba, the
USG had not yet seen any improvements in human rights or
political conditions or in increased respect for civil
liberties.
CHACON