US embassy cable - 04THEHAGUE3243

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 003243 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EUR, WHA/CCA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/13/2014 
TAGS: PREL, PHUM, NL, CU, EUN 
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/EU/CUBA: DUTCH GRAPPLE WITH 
PROSPECTIVE POLICY CHANGE 
 
REF: STATE 262206 
 
Classified By: DCM Daniel Russel for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
1. (C) Summary: The Dutch will chair the December 14 EU 
working party meeting on Latin America (COLAT), at which they 
expect to discuss four or five Member State proposals for 
amending current EU policy toward Cuba.  There is consensus 
that the present policy is unsustainable.  The Dutch 
emphasized they do not wish the EU to appear to be softening 
toward the Cuban government as "they have not earned it." 
The EU, however, is frustrated that the diplomatic freeze 
resulting from the current policy of inviting dissidents to 
national days has prevented the EU from positively 
influencing Cuba.  The Dutch sought U.S. advice on how best 
to package any change in policy so that the U.S. could find 
it acceptable.  End Summary. 
 
2. (C) Poloff delivered reftel points to MFA Cuba policy 
advisor Jan Jaap Groenemeijer December 9, and DCM followed up 
with Western Hemisphere Director Marianne Kappeyne van de 
Coppello on the margins of the US-EU Ministerial on December 
10.  EU frustration over Havana's freeze-out of EU missions 
in Havana and concerns that there can be no progress without 
dialogue is prompting the EU to seek alternatives to the 
current policy of inviting dissidents to national day events, 
Kappeyne van de Coppello said.  She added that the EU, 
looking toward a post-Castro Cuba, feels a strong need to 
"develop lines of communication and political relationships" 
that could help the EU to "soften Cuba's landing" during a 
transition.  Kappeyne van de Coppello, who will chair the 
December 14 COLAT, told the DCM that the EU has four or five 
proposals on the table and asked how the EU might "package" 
an eventual change in policy in a way that the U.S. would 
find acceptable.  One proposal she mentioned was for EU 
Embassies in Havana to discontinue observing national days, 
thereby "removing the irritant" of inviting dissidents; 
another idea was to "open a time-limited window of 
opportunity" for the EU to engage with Cuba and call on Cuba 
to respond in kind with positive political movement. 
 
3. (C) DCM reminded Kappeyne van de Coppello that the goal of 
engaging Cuba is not "dialogue" alone but "real change in 
Cuba."  She readily acknowledged the point, recalling that 
with one dissident being released each day, the number could 
eventually become significant.  Characterizing the releases 
as a cynical ploy, the DCM emphasized U.S. concern about the 
EU policy being influenced by Cuba, rather than the reverse. 
Kappeyne van de Coppello agreed with the DCM's emphatic point 
that it was not effective to respond to bad behavior with 
concessions in order to entice good behavior, and she 
emphasized that the Dutch and EU do not want to be seen as 
softening their position but rather as remaining tough but 
effective in fostering positive change.  The DCM recalled the 
recent aborted visit by Dutch Parliamentarians to Havana, 
which Kappeyne van de Coppello dismissed as a publicity 
stunt; the DCM retorted that Cuba's reaction was nevertheless 
telling, and not encouraging.   Kappeyne van de Coppello was 
concerned how Washington might react to change in EU policy; 
the DCM reminded her that "this is not a non-trivial issue 
for us." 
 
4. (C) On the side, Kappeyne van de Coppello noted that the 
Dutch bilateral position was to keep the current policy in 
place.  She observed further that some countries bear 
national economic concerns in mind during COLAT, but she did 
not elaborate.  Although other Dutch interlocutors have 
suggested in the past that they would prefer to let the issue 
slide out of their presidency, Kappeyne van de Coppello and 
Groenemeijer expressed hope that an agreement be reached as 
soon as possible. 
 
5.  (C)  Kappeyne van de Coppello did not expect the COLAT to 
reach a final agreement on December 14.  Even if the COLAT 
does reach agreement, she noted, the EU's Political and 
Security Committee (PSC) would still need to approve a 
decision before sending it to the GAERC or European Council 
for endorsement.  Kappeyne van de Coppello was clearly aware 
of the possible negative impact of a change on EU-US 
relations, and asked for advice on how the Dutch/EU might 
best package any change in EU policy toward Cuba to make it 
more palatable. 
SOBEL