US embassy cable - 05WARSAW3909

C O N F I D E N T I A L WARSAW 003909 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/23/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PHUM, PGOV, CU, PL, EUN, Human Rights 
SUBJECT: POLISH RESOLVE REINFORCED ON CUBA POLICY 
 
 
Classified By: Political Counselor Mary Curtin, reasons 1.4b,d 
 
1. (C) Summary: The transition to a center-right government 
in Poland and the Polish MFA Latin America director's recent 
visit to Havana appear to have strengthened Polish 
determination to promote democratic reform in Cuba, both 
through the European Union and bilaterally.  We view this 
development as an opportunity to encourage Poland to 
coordinate closely with the Czech Republic and other 
sympathetic governments (especially Germany) to focus EU Cuba 
policy to better support the democratic opposition in Cuba. 
End summary. 
 
2. (C) Polish MFA Americas Director Henryk Szlajfer returned 
from his October mission to Havana (during which he was 
nearly denied entry and was effectively stiff-armed by the 
Cuban government) with a renewed vigor for taking on the 
Castro regime.  Szlajfer reviewed for us the Polish proposal 
tabled at the November 10 EU COLAT meeting, which called on 
the European Union to step up its engagement in support of 
Cuban human rights activists and to adopt a unified approach 
that will limit the Castro's ability to "divide and conquer." 
Among the Polish paper's specific proposals were: a new 
initiative to set up a special support fund, under European 
Parliament auspices (and with EC backing), to support the 
Cuban opposition; possible assistance from the EIDHR; a visit 
to Cuba by the EU Human Rights Special Envoy; sponsorship of 
individual political prisoners by EU member states, including 
providing assistance to their families; more vigorous 
pressure on Cuban ambassadors in EU capitals; and a campaign 
of activity by EU member state missions in Latin America to 
raise awareness of the human rights situation in Cuba. 
 
3. (C) Szlajfer lamented that only the German and Dutch 
representatives at the COLAT had voiced support for the 
Polish proposals.  He agreed that the Polish government 
should work closely with the Czechs and the Dutch to lobby 
others, particularly the Germans, and suggested that, as part 
of that effort, he would take up the issue with the Dutch 
during bilateral talks in Ultrecht November 30. 
 
4. (C) The Polish MFA confirmed November 22 that planning is 
moving ahead on a digital video conference between former 
Polish President Lech Walesa and the Cuban opposition 
sometime in December.  Walesa's particiption is confirmed, 
and the Poles are now looking at the appropriate timing for 
this event. 
 
5. (C) Comment: We will continue to encourage Polish 
officials to coordinate closely with allies on Cuban policy, 
both to maximize their impact at EU meetings and to target 
potentially helpful, but so-far mostly silent, partners such 
as Germany.  Upcoming high-level meetings with the new Polish 
government and the anticipated U.S.-Polish Strategic Dialogue 
in January will be early opportunities to reinforce this 
message. 
ASHE