US embassy cable - 04ROME4699

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 004699 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
FOR WHA/CCA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/13/2014 
TAGS: PREL, PHUM, EU, CU, IT, HUMAN RIGHTS 
SUBJECT: ITALY: EU COMMON POSITION ON CUBA: ENCOURAGE 
"GOODWILL GESTURES" 
 
REF: A. STATE 262206 
 
     B. ROME 04474 
     C. ROME 04282 
     D. ROME 04198 
 
Classified By: Human Rights/Labor Counselor Candace Putnam for reasons 
1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
(C)  Paolo Miraglia,  MFA Central America and Caribbean 
Office Director, reiterated to poloff that Italy and most EU 
partners are committed to upholding the fundamentals of the 
EU Common Position on Cuba while exploring strategies on how 
to further engage and encourage the Castro regime to act in 
accordance with the principles of the Common Position (refs 
b,c,d).  Miraglia stated that in view of the recent release 
of some dissidents, which he described as a "goodwill 
gesture,"  the December 14 COLAT would focus on how to 
encourage further "positive actions" by the Castro regime. 
He said that although these actions were "insufficient" they 
pointed to "a positive development" which must be encouraged 
rather than stifled.  As in previous exchanges, he did not 
provide specifics on how this might be done and did not 
indicate an Italian position on the issue. 
 
 
SEMBLER 
 
 
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 2004ROME04699 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL