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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HAVANA 023612 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
OTTAWA FOR USINT COM MICHAEL PARMLY 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/17/2016 
TAGS: OREP PREL ECON PHUM KDEM CU
SUBJECT: CODEL FLAKE PRESS CONFERENCE 
 
REF: HAVANA 23608 
 
HAVANA 00023612  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Buddy Williams; reasons 1.4 (b) and (d 
) 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary: CODEL Flake was besieged by international 
press upon arrival in Havana on December 15 (reftel).  Both 
in their individual comments to the media and in a joint 
statement read at a December 17 press conference, CODEL 
members characterized this as a time for dialogue and an 
"historic opportunity," and disagreed with statements by 
Administration officials to the contrary.  Most CODEL members 
criticized U.S. policy over 48 years as ineffective or "a 
Cold War relic" and predicted that new Democratic majorities 
in Congress would change that course.  Members of the 
delegation heralded "transition in Washington," rather than 
in Cuba, and several Representatives put the onus on the U.S. 
to change its policy unilaterally.  However, Rep. Moran 
voiced disappointment that the post July 31 Cuban government 
did not indicate any change on its part and had hardened its 
stance.  Rep. Conaway addressed human rights and political 
freedom, which otherwise received scant attention though some 
news reports noted that the delegation had not met with 
dissidents.  The international press focused on the state of 
Fidel Castro,s health and the fact that the delegation did 
not meet with Raul Castro. End Summary. 
 
 Historic Opportunity, to Change U.S. Policy 
------------------------------------------ 
 
¶2. (SBU) International press in Havana swarmed over CODEL 
Flake from the moment they arrived.  Rep. Flake and other 
delegation members told reporters that the majority of the 
U.S. Congress and the American people supported greater 
dialogue with Cuba, and that the timing was ripe for such 
dialogue, differing with recent statements by A/S Shannon. 
The CODEL issued a joint statement at the conclusion of their 
visit during a well-attended press conference on December 17 
affirming that it was time for the U.S. to enter into a 
dialogue with Cuba, despite "strong disagreements," and 
respond positively to Raul Castro,s proposal in his December 
2 speech.  The statement supports normal diplomacy and 
consultation on migration, drug trafficking, oil exploration 
and other areas, as a starting point (Full text in para 8). 
 
¶3. (SBU) At the press conference Rep. Flake underscored the 
fact that this was the largest CODEL in half a century, and 
noted the importance of their timing.  Rep. Delahunt and 
other delegation members characterized this as an "historic" 
opportunity for dialogue, noting Raul,s offer of 
negotiations, and leveled strong criticism of U.S. policy 
toward Cuba over 48 years.  Rep. Delahunt called U.S. policy 
an "abysmal failure" while long-time embargo opponent Rep. 
McGovern said it was "self-defeating and wrong" and a "relic 
of the Cold War."  Other delegation members were less 
categorical.   Reps. Emerson and Moran favored further 
liberalizing trade, particularly in agricultural products, 
while Rep. Solis supported lifting restrictions on family 
travel and remittances.  Rep. Harman regretted that there had 
been so little dialogue with Cuba, and Rep. Davis called for 
people-to-people contact. 
 
¶4. (SBU)  Several members of the delegation focused on change 
in the U.S. Congress rather than change in Cuba.  A number of 
Members referred to the "transition" in the U.S. Congress, 
and Rep. Meeks stated that "transition was not about the 
Castros" but about changing U.S. policy.  He argued that it 
was time to change course in Cuba, as in Iraq.  Delegation 
members predicted majority support in the new Congress for a 
reorientation of U.S. policy and anticipated more hearings on 
issues such as drug interdiction or family travel. 
 
Change in Cuba 
--------------- 
 
¶5. (C) Several Members put the onus for change on US policy 
rather than the Cuban regime, tacitly conceding, as a Cuban 
official commented, that the "ball was in the U.S. court." 
Both Reps. Flake and Delahunt referred to Raul Castro,s 
offer of negotiations, which Delahunt said implied a 
willingness to change, adding that political will for change 
now existed on both sides of the Straits.  Rep. Moran was 
less optimistic and expressed disappointment that Cuban 
 
HAVANA 00023612  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
officials gave no indication they were willing to change the 
nature of their government or policy.  While the Cuban people 
were moving on to a post-Fidel era, the officials were 
reacting in a more hard-line fashion, he admitted, and there 
was no evidence of a transition.  Rep. Davis also said that 
both sides must be willing to engage, not just the U.S. 
 
¶6. (C) Few delegation Members referred to the human rights 
situation in Cuba, with the exception of Rep. Conaway.  He 
was discouraged by his discussions with Cuban officials who 
were uninterested in addressing human rights, freedom of the 
press or free elections, and was surprised that Cubans did 
not even have access to news about Major League Baseball. 
Asked to reconcile U.S. demands to release prisoners and the 
Cuban government,s position of non-interference in Cuban 
sovereignty, both Meeks and McGovern argued that current U.S. 
policy had not obtained the prisoners, release, and that the 
U.S. and Cuba needed to sit down and discuss such issues. 
Others argued that advancing trade and economic freedom would 
promote human rights. 
 
Press Reports Focus on Fidel 
----------------------------- 
 
7.(SBU) A few press reports mentioned that the delegation did 
not meet with dissidents, but most of the U.S. and 
international media focused on the question of Fidel 
Castro,s prognosis.  Rep. Flake told the press that Cuban 
officials had assured him it was not cancer and not terminal 
while Rep. Harman regretted inaccurate statements by U.S. 
intelligence officials on Fidel,s health.  She also noted 
that the party line that Fidel would return to power created 
a power vacuum.  Rep. Flake said that the delegation had 
sought a meeting with Raul, but the regime was "not yet ready 
to concede a new era."  Rep. Delahunt told the press that the 
transition had already occurred with or without Fidel. 
 
Joint Statement from the CODEL 
------------------------------ 
 
¶8. (U) The CODEL issued the following statement at the 
December 17 press conference wrapping up their visit: 
 
It is time for the U.S. to enter a dialogue with Cuba. 
 
America has important interests in Cuba and strong 
disagreements with the Cuban government. 
 
At a time when Cuba is changing and the opportunities to 
advance our interests and values in Cuba are not known, we 
unanimously believe that the U.S. should respond positively 
to the proposal made by Raul Castro in his speech of Dec. 2. 
 
No one should be under the illusion that a negotiation with 
Cuba would be easy, or that results would be guaranteed.  But 
if we refuse to engage in normal diplomacy, we are guaranteed 
to produce no results at all. 
 
We should be consulting regularly about migration issues, to 
protect national security and to save lives.  We should see 
if more can be done to fight drug trafficking.  We should be 
talking right now about Cuba's offshore oil exploration, 
given its potential impact on our own marine environment.  We 
know there are fugitives from American justice here, and 
there are some in U.S. custody who are of interest to Cuba. 
Perhaps there is the basis of an agreement there. 
 
There may be other areas of opportunity.  Only by probing 
Cuba's proposal is it possible to find out.  Our visit 
provided the first official American contact with senior 
Cuban officials since the delegation of executive powers last 
July 31.  We appreciate the time and courtesies that our 
hosts extended throughout our visit. 
WILLIAMS