US embassy cable - 05PARIS7145

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 007145 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/18/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PHUM, FR, CU 
SUBJECT: FRENCH CUBA POLICY: HAVE THEY SEEN THE LIGHT? 
 
 
Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt, reasons 
1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1.  (C) MFA Cuba Desk Officer Eric Chaux provided a readout 
to Poloff October 17 on the October 11 meeting between French 
Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy and Cuban Foreign 
Minister Felipe Perez Roque.  Chaux echoed the official press 
release in stating that the visit was "devoted exclusively to 
the human rights situation in Cuba" and that Douste-Blazy had 
delivered a strong message demanding the release of 
dissidents.  The French had adopted a "constructive dialogue" 
approach, Chaux explained, after the EU sanctions of 2003 had 
failed to produce tangible results.  Cuban gestures at the 
end of 2004 (prior to the EU vote on suspending sanctions) 
and the relatively successful May 20 dissident congress had 
raised French hopes that such engagement could effect change. 
 However, the July 22nd crackdown and current conditions in 
Cuba -- which Chaux characterized as similar to the situation 
in March 2003 -- were "provocations" that had convinced the 
GoF that the Castro regime had "crossed the red line." 
According to Chaux, Douste-Blazy had informed Perez Roque 
that the GoC had "played long enough" and that the GoF 
expected concrete actions, namely the liberation of 
dissidents. 
 
2.  (C) Comment: A genuine shift in France's Cuba policy may 
be in the making.  This would be a welcome change, as the GoF 
has been second only to Spain in trying to water down EU 
efforts to confront Castro.  The GoF was the first EU country 
to invite GoC officials to its national day, without 
similarly inviting dissidents to the same event, following 
the suspension of EU sanctions.  The GoF added injury to 
insult by providing Perez Roque a platform at the event from 
which to speak.  No such platform, however, was provided 
following the October 11 meeting in Paris; Perez Roque did 
not speak to reporters afterwards, and the Cuban Embassy in 
Paris had no comment on the discussion.  The silence on the 
part of the GoC suggests the French were indeed forceful in 
their demands.  Whether this recent dress-down is an 
indication of a significant policy shift -- one that will be 
followed up with further action -- remains to be seen.  End 
Comment. 
Please visit Paris' Classified Website at: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm 
STAPLETON