US embassy cable - 04ROME4198

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 004198 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
FOR WHA/CCA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/29/2014 
TAGS: PREL, PHUM, EU, CU, IT, HUMAN RIGHTS 
SUBJECT: ITALY: EU COMMON POSITION ON CUBA 
 
REF: SECSTATE 228300 
 
Classified By: POL M/C Tom Countryman for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1 (C) Paolo Miraglia, MFA Central America and Caribbean 
Office Director, stated that the EU Common Position on Cuba 
was being reexamined by the EU at the insistence of the 
Zapatero government.  He said that the issue would be 
discussed at the upcoming EU Latin America Working Group 
(COLAT) November 16 at which time EU ambassadors from Havana 
would provide input on possible changes to the Common 
Position.  Although he was not aware of any specific 
proposals, Miraglia stated that one of the principal points 
that will be analyzed is the efficacy of the current policy 
of inclusion of dissidents at national day celebrations and a 
discussion of how to normalize relations with the Castro 
regime.  Miraglia stated that the November 16 COLAT would 
serve primarily to hear the opinions of EU ambassadors and 
evaluate different proposals but doubted that any decisions 
would be made at this time. 
 
2. (C)    According to Miraglia, the issue is highly 
polarized, with countries such as Spain and France pushing 
for "normalized" relations while others want to maintain the 
current approach.  He stated that Italy is generally in favor 
of maintaining the current position due to the lack of 
improvement in the human rights situation in Cuba but is also 
willing to entertain other proposals. 
 
3. (C)  Regarding the Spanish motivation, he stated that the 
Zapatero government believes that the current approach is not 
producing results, and in fact is allowing Castro to 
ostracize EU ambassadors making it difficult for them to make 
any headway with the regime.  In addition to this argument, 
Miraglia said that the Spanish, due to their traditional ties 
with Cuba, are keen to maintain a leadership role on this 
issue and are therefore the driving force behind the 
reevaluation. 
 
 
SEMBLER 
 
 
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 2004ROME04198 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL