Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10BRUSSELS64
2010-01-20 15:15:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Brussels
Cable title:
BELGIUM: ENGAGEMENT WITH CIVIL SOCIETY IN CUBA
how-toVZCZCXRO3110 PP RUEHAG RUEHROV RUEHSL RUEHSR DE RUEHBS #0064 0201515 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 201515Z JAN 10 FM AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9916 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHSW/AMEMBASSY BERN PRIORITY 7826 RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 0213 RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES PRIORITY 0001 RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO PRIORITY 0345 RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO PRIORITY 9101 RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PRIORITY 0004 RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO PRIORITY 0135 RUEHROV/AMEMBASSY VATICAN PRIORITY RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA PRIORITY 0015
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 000064
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/WE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/19/2020
TAGS: PHUM PREL SOCI CU BE
SUBJECT: BELGIUM: ENGAGEMENT WITH CIVIL SOCIETY IN CUBA
THROUGH DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE
REF: STATE 131637
Classified By: Acting Pol/Econ Counselor Robert Kiene for reasons 1.4 (
b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 000064
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/WE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/19/2020
TAGS: PHUM PREL SOCI CU BE
SUBJECT: BELGIUM: ENGAGEMENT WITH CIVIL SOCIETY IN CUBA
THROUGH DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE
REF: STATE 131637
Classified By: Acting Pol/Econ Counselor Robert Kiene for reasons 1.4 (
b) and (d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: Cuba desk officer at the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs (MFA),Sadi Brancart, said that Belgian-Cuba
relations are "better than the EU average," thanks to
significant development assistance. He was unaware of
Spain's initiative to replace the EU common position with
individual bilateral agreements, but believed that because of
its strongly pro-EU views, Belgium would oppose this out of
principle. Belgium would welcome greater coordination with
the USG on the "Cuban Five" and the trade embargo, to stop
allowing the GOC to use these subjects as an excuse for
inaction on reform. The GOB strives to maintain an on-going
dialogue within Cuba by striking a balance between criticism
of the GOC's human rights record and development assistance.
END SUMMARY
2. (C) Poloff met to deliver reftel points to Sadi
Brancart, Cuba Desk Officer at the Belgian MFA, on January
19. Brancart said that Belgian-Cuba relations are "better
than the EU average," principally because of the amount of
development assistance given to Cuba by Belgium. In 2008,
this assistance amounted to 4.1 million Euros, nearly double
the 2007 amount and 0.25 percent of Belgium's global
assistance budget. About half of the assistance goes toward
education and health programs, as these benefit the general
Cuban population and cannot easily be diverted by the GOC.
Most of the assistance is distributed by cooperating
non-governmental organizations and civil society.
3. (C) Brancart said that the Belgian MFA welcomes Spain's
initiative to discuss the common EU position on Cuba, as the
position was formed "a long time ago in 1996." However, he
was unaware of the movement to replace the EU common position
with individual bilateral ones, and said that because Belgium
is pro-EU, he believes that it would oppose this out of
principle.
4. (C) Brancart stated the two issues on which the U.S.
could coordinate more closely with Belgium are the "Cuban
Five" and the ongoing U.S. trade embargo to Cuba. He said
that Cuba has become adept at using these issues as a
justification for inaction on a range of proposed reforms and
social issues.
5. (C) Brancart said that Belgium deals with a number of
civil society NGO's in Cuba, predominantly in the development
arena. Belgium has an Embassy in Havana, making outreach
activities on-going. Brancart said that the Belgian Embassy
does not provide access to information to Cuban citizens. He
described how the Embassy in Havana holds two Belgian
national day events to build contacts, one for the government
and one for the government's political opponents. Both
events are attended by the whole Embassy, including the
Ambassador. He concluded that Belgian diplomats try to strike
a balance when criticizing the GOC, avoiding doing so too
aggressively, as this once led to having relations with GOC
frozen and making it impossible to perform development work.
GUTMAN
.
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/WE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/19/2020
TAGS: PHUM PREL SOCI CU BE
SUBJECT: BELGIUM: ENGAGEMENT WITH CIVIL SOCIETY IN CUBA
THROUGH DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE
REF: STATE 131637
Classified By: Acting Pol/Econ Counselor Robert Kiene for reasons 1.4 (
b) and (d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: Cuba desk officer at the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs (MFA),Sadi Brancart, said that Belgian-Cuba
relations are "better than the EU average," thanks to
significant development assistance. He was unaware of
Spain's initiative to replace the EU common position with
individual bilateral agreements, but believed that because of
its strongly pro-EU views, Belgium would oppose this out of
principle. Belgium would welcome greater coordination with
the USG on the "Cuban Five" and the trade embargo, to stop
allowing the GOC to use these subjects as an excuse for
inaction on reform. The GOB strives to maintain an on-going
dialogue within Cuba by striking a balance between criticism
of the GOC's human rights record and development assistance.
END SUMMARY
2. (C) Poloff met to deliver reftel points to Sadi
Brancart, Cuba Desk Officer at the Belgian MFA, on January
19. Brancart said that Belgian-Cuba relations are "better
than the EU average," principally because of the amount of
development assistance given to Cuba by Belgium. In 2008,
this assistance amounted to 4.1 million Euros, nearly double
the 2007 amount and 0.25 percent of Belgium's global
assistance budget. About half of the assistance goes toward
education and health programs, as these benefit the general
Cuban population and cannot easily be diverted by the GOC.
Most of the assistance is distributed by cooperating
non-governmental organizations and civil society.
3. (C) Brancart said that the Belgian MFA welcomes Spain's
initiative to discuss the common EU position on Cuba, as the
position was formed "a long time ago in 1996." However, he
was unaware of the movement to replace the EU common position
with individual bilateral ones, and said that because Belgium
is pro-EU, he believes that it would oppose this out of
principle.
4. (C) Brancart stated the two issues on which the U.S.
could coordinate more closely with Belgium are the "Cuban
Five" and the ongoing U.S. trade embargo to Cuba. He said
that Cuba has become adept at using these issues as a
justification for inaction on a range of proposed reforms and
social issues.
5. (C) Brancart said that Belgium deals with a number of
civil society NGO's in Cuba, predominantly in the development
arena. Belgium has an Embassy in Havana, making outreach
activities on-going. Brancart said that the Belgian Embassy
does not provide access to information to Cuban citizens. He
described how the Embassy in Havana holds two Belgian
national day events to build contacts, one for the government
and one for the government's political opponents. Both
events are attended by the whole Embassy, including the
Ambassador. He concluded that Belgian diplomats try to strike
a balance when criticizing the GOC, avoiding doing so too
aggressively, as this once led to having relations with GOC
frozen and making it impossible to perform development work.
GUTMAN
.