Cablegate: Iceland: Agree On Cuban Human Rights Situation, Disagree On

VZCZCXRO9433
PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHRK #0306 2981658
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 251658Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY REYKJAVIK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3474
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS REYKJAVIK 000306

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR IO/UNP JOHN MARIZ
ALSO FOR EUR/NB, DRL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: UNGA ETRD PHUM PREL CU IC
SUBJECT: ICELAND: AGREE ON CUBAN HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION, DISAGREE ON
EMBARGO AS A MEANS FOR CHANGE

REF: STATE 148506

1. (SBU) Pol Chief passed reftel points as well as President Bush's
Oct. 24 remarks and the White House fact sheet on Cuba policy to the
Icelandic Ministry for Foreign Affairs on 25 October. MFA
Minister-Counsellor for International Organization Affairs Nikulas
Hannigan was appreciative of the additional information regarding
new USG initiatives to support democracy activists in Cuba.

2. (SBU) With regard to the Cuban-sponsored UN General Assembly
resolution against the U.S. embargo, Hannigan noted that this is one
area in which the U.S. and Iceland have traditionally disagreed.
While the Government of Iceland shares U.S. concern for the human
rights situation in Cuba -- and will strongly consider submitting an
explanation of vote expressing same -- it disagrees with the embargo
as a good tactic for achieving progress in Cuba. As a result, the
MFA sees little reason to alter its historical pattern of voting for
the resolution.

VAN VOORST

© Scoop Media