SYG BAN'S CONVERSATION WITH RAUL CASTRO AT NAM

C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 000703

SIPDIS

NSC FOR DAN RESTREPO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/17/2019
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL CU
SUBJECT: SYG BAN'S CONVERSATION WITH RAUL CASTRO AT NAM
SUMMIT

Classified By: Ambassador Wolff for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary. At the request of Secretary-General Ban,
Department of Political Affairs Under Secretary-General
Pascoe provided Ambassador Wolff with a readout of Ban's
conversation with Cuban President Raul Castro on July 17 on
the margins of Non-aligned Movement Summit in Sharm
el-Sheikh. The two leaders discussed the U.S.-Cuba
relationship, recent immigration talks and former President
Fidel Castro's health. End Summary.


2. (C) Cuban President Raul Castro told Secretary-General Ban
that Cuba is ready to discuss "every issue" with the U.S. on
"equal terms with full responsibility for sovereignty,"
adding that this should be done without intermediaries. "We
have to be able to judge each other with mutual respect,"
Castro commented. He characterized the recent immigration
talks as "good" and, according to Ban, seemed pleased that a
joint press statement was issued. Castro noted that
President Obama had lifted some restrictions, which Castro
thought was a good step. Castro commented that each
delegation shared lists of issues to be discussed. He
referred to his as a "laundry list" that included both the
Guantanamo Naval Base as well as the U.S. "blockade" against
Cuba. According to Ban, Castro said he was prepared to
discuss human rights first, but expressed some doubt about
the ability to "make great progress" across the board, as the
media had speculated. Castro said he was prepared to move
slowly, step by step. He won't change the regime but can
improve it. He acknowledged that there were many things he
could not do on the migration issue. According to Pascoe, he
told Ban that if he opened up immigration policy too much,
"we would lose our brains."


3. (C) Castro referenced a recent statement by U.S. Secretary
of State Clinton, suggesting changes in Cuba were not enough.
Castro said that he "told his people not to attack President
Obama or Secretary Clinton." The Secretary-General also
pushed Castro on the ratification of several economic/social
conventions, to which Castro replied that "this was not the
best time," reiterating that Cuba needed to remove
regulations step by step.


4. (C) A/SYG Pascoe commented (based on his own recent trip)
that it was clear Cuba was "excited and interested" in
engaging with the United States. However, they are
apprehensive about what engagement might mean and how talks
between the countries will progress. According to Pascoe,
President Castro told Ban that Fidel is "doing much better"
and added that he was able to walk home after his recent
hospitalization. Raul Castro remarked that his brother's
mind is still sharp and he continues to write his column, but
he will "never be back 100 percent." President Castro told
Ban that he was able to get the National Assembly to support
his request that Fidel serve as his advisor. He noted that
the nature of their discussions are general, adding that his
brother never "tells him not to do something." Pascoe said
that Castro indicated to Ban that he was aware Cuba needed to
"fix things," but continued reiterating that it would take
time.
RICE