Cablegate: Media Reaction - Cuba: Castro Transition

VZCZCXYZ0011
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSG #1936 2541941
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 111941Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9970
INFO RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA 0046

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 001936

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR R/MR, I/PP, WHA/BSC, WHA/PDA, WHA/CCA
STATE FOR INR/IAA, PM, INL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KPAO KMDR PHUM PGOV CI
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION - CUBA: CASTRO TRANSITION

1. On September 10, government-owned, editorially independent "La
Nacion" (circ., 4,200) carried a column by defense journalist Raul
Sohr, entitled, "Cuba and Venezuela, a U.S. Target." Quote:

2. "The United States believes that nothing will ever be the same in
Cuba again.... Washington believes that there is a before and after
July 31, when Castro yielded power.... The United States is
conducting a war on Cuba's nerves.... It offers to lift the
economic embargo...a petition that Washington knows cannot prosper
and even encourages that it does not. The Cuban regime can only
feel insecurity from the creation of a 'special mission' to increase
intelligence activities in Cuba and Venezuela.... The truth is that
the USG and the Cuban regime are doing everything possible to avoid
a transition."

KELLY

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