Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10BUDAPEST33
2010-01-21 16:11:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Budapest
Cable title:
DEMARCHE DELIVERED: EU ENGAGEMENT WITH CIVIL
how-toVZCZCXRO4231 RR RUEHAG RUEHROV RUEHSL RUEHSR DE RUEHUP #0033 0211611 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 211611Z JAN 10 FM AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4823 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA 0025
C O N F I D E N T I A L BUDAPEST 000033
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/CE JAMIE MOORE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/20/2020
TAGS: PHUM PREL SOCI CU HU
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: EU ENGAGEMENT WITH CIVIL
SOCIETY IN CUBA
REF: SECSTATE 131637
Classified By: PolOff Ryan Leong; reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L BUDAPEST 000033
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/CE JAMIE MOORE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/20/2020
TAGS: PHUM PREL SOCI CU HU
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: EU ENGAGEMENT WITH CIVIL
SOCIETY IN CUBA
REF: SECSTATE 131637
Classified By: PolOff Ryan Leong; reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) PolOff delivered ref points to Ministry of Foreign
Affairs Cuba Desk Officer Istvan Sandor on January 19.
Sandor greatly appreciated the update on U.S. policy towards
Cuba and stated that Hungary's position has been, and will
remain, consistently firm with regards to human rights,
political prisoners, and civil society in Cuba. Notably,
Hungary does not support any change to the EU Common Position
as advocated by Spain but would be amenable to a new version
of the document as long as it retained the same elements as
the original.
2. (C) In response to reftel para 11 questions, Sandor
characterized the Hungarian-Cuban bilateral relationship as
largely focused on economics, as demonstrated by a trade
delegation sent to Cuba in 2009. However, commercial
interests remain very limited, with some discussion given to
energy sector development. Sandor stated that the
three-person Hungarian mission in Havana maintained weekly
contact with members of civil society and the opposition,
most frequently at the counselor level. Hungarian diplomats
have visited political prisoners or their families on
occasion. Unfortunately, according to Sandor, Hungary lacked
the financial resources for more energetic programs to engage
Cuban citizens by providing access to information or other
projects. Sandor summarized Hungary's policy towards Cuba as
"hard-line" and in step with the U.S., U.K., Germany, Czech
Republic, Sweden, and Poland.
KOUNALAKIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/CE JAMIE MOORE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/20/2020
TAGS: PHUM PREL SOCI CU HU
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: EU ENGAGEMENT WITH CIVIL
SOCIETY IN CUBA
REF: SECSTATE 131637
Classified By: PolOff Ryan Leong; reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) PolOff delivered ref points to Ministry of Foreign
Affairs Cuba Desk Officer Istvan Sandor on January 19.
Sandor greatly appreciated the update on U.S. policy towards
Cuba and stated that Hungary's position has been, and will
remain, consistently firm with regards to human rights,
political prisoners, and civil society in Cuba. Notably,
Hungary does not support any change to the EU Common Position
as advocated by Spain but would be amenable to a new version
of the document as long as it retained the same elements as
the original.
2. (C) In response to reftel para 11 questions, Sandor
characterized the Hungarian-Cuban bilateral relationship as
largely focused on economics, as demonstrated by a trade
delegation sent to Cuba in 2009. However, commercial
interests remain very limited, with some discussion given to
energy sector development. Sandor stated that the
three-person Hungarian mission in Havana maintained weekly
contact with members of civil society and the opposition,
most frequently at the counselor level. Hungarian diplomats
have visited political prisoners or their families on
occasion. Unfortunately, according to Sandor, Hungary lacked
the financial resources for more energetic programs to engage
Cuban citizens by providing access to information or other
projects. Sandor summarized Hungary's policy towards Cuba as
"hard-line" and in step with the U.S., U.K., Germany, Czech
Republic, Sweden, and Poland.
KOUNALAKIS