US embassy cable - 05SANTODOMINGO2058

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANTO DOMINGO 002058 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR IO/SHA, DRL/MLA, WHA/CAR 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/12/2010 
TAGS: PHUM, CU, BO, DR 
SUBJECT: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC AND CHR-61: EUROPEAN 
AMBASSADORS ON CUBA, BELARUS RESOLUTIONS 
 
REF: SANTO DOMINGO 1507 
 
Classified By: DCM Lisa Kubiske.  Reason:  1.4 (a) and (d). 
 
1. (C) Summary:  The Ambassador approached both the French 
and the British ambassadors here about helping convince 
President Fernandez to cast the Dominican vote in favor of 
the draft resolution on Cuba in CHR-61.  The Ambassador noted 
that, despite his repeated and extensive conversations with 
Fernandez, the Dominican president was strongly inclined to 
abstain.  UK Ambassador Andrew Ashcroft undertook to urge 
Fernandez to reconsider.  On the draft resolution on Belarus, 
Ashcroft noted great interest in London but said he was doing 
nothing here.  The French ambassador has received no 
instructions concerning UNHRC issues. The Dutch Ambassador, 
representing the EU Presidency, has received instructions for 
a joint demarche with us on the Belarus resolution.  End 
summary. 
 
Cuba 
- - - - 
 
2. (C) The Ambassador, accompanied by Embassy officers, on 
April 11-12 urged the French and British ambassadors to help 
persuade President Fernandez to cast the Dominican 
Republic,s vote for the Cuba resolution at CHR-61.  The 
Ambassador said he had spoken extensively on several 
occasions (most recently on April 8) with Fernandez about the 
importance of continuing Santo Domingo,s previous support 
for the CHR,s scrutiny of Cuba.  However, the Ambassador 
noted, Fernandez seemed strongly inclined to abstain on this 
year,s resolution, because of his political party,s 
historical ties with Cuba.   The Ambassador asked both of the 
European ambassadors what they could do. 
 
3. (C) French Ambassador Jean-Claude Moyret declined to 
engage on the issue and said he had received no instructions 
on CHR issues.  British Ambassador Andrew Ashcroft offered to 
speak with Fernandez, show him the "bland" draft resolution, 
and ask him how he could afford not support it -- both 
because of its minimalist content and as a signal of 
commitment to freedom and democracy.  Aschcroft said that at 
least one European official visitor to Cuba had "spoken out 
strongly" on human rights issues even after the EU's recently 
"renewed detente" with the Castro regime. 
 
Belarus 
- - - - - - 
 
4. (C) Regarding the draft resolution on Belarus in CHR-61, 
Ashcroft said he had not taken any action.  He did note great 
interest in London in passing the Belarus resolution.  The 
EU, he said, had decided not to divide its efforts on 
additional country-specific resolutions, for example on 
Africa, and instead to emphasize Belarus. 
 
5. (C) Separately, Dutch Ambassador Bart Schortinghuis 
confirmed to us recept of instructions to coordinate a joint 
demarche with this Embassy on Belarus, acting on behalf of 
the Luxembourg EU Presidency, .  We said we would inform him 
as soon as our front-channel guidance arrives. 
HERTELL