CZECH COMMENTS ON EU ENGAGEMENT WITH CIVIL SOCIETY

C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAGUE 000020

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/CE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/14/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL EX XG CU PHUM SOCI
SUBJECT: CZECH COMMENTS ON EU ENGAGEMENT WITH CIVIL SOCIETY
IN CUBA

REF: 09 STATE 131637

Classified By: POLEC Counselor Charles O. Blaha for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).


1. (C) Emboffs discussed reftel points with Czech MFA
American Department Director Katerina Fialkova on December

29. Fialkova noted that within the European Union some
member states are rethinking bilateral and EU engagement with
Cuba. While the Spanish Presidency, and FM Moratinos in
particular, have floated the idea of moving toward bilateral,
non-interference agreements with the Cuban government and
away from the EU common position, Fialkova stressed that
there is no consensus among EU member states in support of
this proposed approach.

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"The Time Has Not Come" to Move from the EU Common Position
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2. (C) According to Fialkova, it is still important to hold
Cuba to the principles outlined in the EU common position.
While some EU members believe there have been small steps,
such as the release of two prisoners following the visit of
Spanish FM Moratinos, the Czechs do not see this as a genuine
indication of change from the Cuban regime. Fialkova went on
to state that "the time has not come" to move away from the
EU's common position, and noted that several EU member states
are in agreement with the Czechs. She also noted that the
Spaniards will need to find balance within the EU, since they
are at the extreme end of the spectrum on Cuba and the Czechs
view Moratinos's comments as simply "testing the waters."

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Slight Internal Shift?
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3. (SBU) While the Czechs plan to hold the line within the EU
to maintain the common position, there are signs of some
slight changes in how the Czechs view Cuba. For example,
Fialkova noted that while the Czechs held the EU Presidency
in 2009, FM Kohout represented the EU in meetings with Cuban
FM Rodriguez and that they developed a certain basic rapport.
(Note: According to Fialkova, the last Czech-Cuban dialogue
at this level was in 2002. End Note.) Fialkova also
commented that for the first time the Czech government is
considering a pilot project involving a small local
agricultural project, which is atypical for the Czechs who
typically focus heavily on projects supporting dissidents and
human rights issues. There is no indication, however, that
the Czechs are in any way moving away from their commitment
to human rights issues. It does appear, however, that they
are exploring additional avenues of reaching the Cuban
public.
Thompson-Jones