State Department cable distributes transcript from the February 27, 2002 press conference where a variety of subjects were addressed. Among the issued raised were: i) Cubans forced removal from Mexican Embassy; ii) Human rights in Cuba; and iii) coca & poppy cultivation in Columbia.
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040575
SOURCE: CBLEXCLS.006250
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PAGE 02 STATE
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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE
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UNCLAS STATE 040575
ALL POSTS FOR PAO, USSOCOM FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC, KPAO
SUBJECT: WHA GUIDANCE, MARCH 1, 2002
SUMMARY OF CONTENTS:
1.
WHA PRESS GUIDANCE, MARCH 1 (CUBA/MEXICO)
2.
INL PRESS GUIDANCE, MARCH 1 (COLOMBIA)
3.
S/WCI PRESS GUIDANCE, MARCH 1 (DETAINEES/GUANTANAMO)
END SUMMARY.
1. WHA PRESS GUIDANCE, MARCH 1, 2002
-- CUBA: CUBAN RUSH ON MEXICAN EMBASSY --
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PAGE 03.STATE.
Q: ANY COMMENT ON THE FORCED REMOVAL FROM THE MEXICAN
EMBASSY IN HAVANA OF THE GROUP OF CUBANS THAT ENTERED
YESTERDAY?
A: WE ARE AWARE OF THE ACTION.
NOW THAT THE 21 INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN RETURNED TO CUBAN
AUTHORITIES, THEY MUST BE TREATED JUSTLY, TRANSPARENTLY,
.WITHOUT REPRISALS AND IN ACCORD WITH INTERNATIONAL
HUMANITARIAN STANDARDS.
IN THIS REGARD, THE CUBAN GOVERNMENT MUST TREAT THE 21 IN
FULL ACCORD WITH HUMANITARIAN PRACTICE AND MEXICO'S
COMMITMENT TO STRICT HUMAN RIGHTS OBSERVANCE. WE, THE MEXICAN
GOVERNMENT AND THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY WILL MONITOR
CLOSELY.
Q: WHAT ABOUT THE DOZENS OF CUBANS ARRESTED AND BEATEN BY
CUBAN SECURITY FORCES? THE BEATINGS OF THE REUTERS
CORRESPONDENT AND HIS PHOTOGRAPHER?
A: CUBAN GOVERNMENT POLICE AND REGIME-BACKED THUGS BEAT
SCORES OF CUBANS WHO GATHERED AROUND THE MEXICAN EMBASSY ON
FEBRUARY 26-27. DOZENS OF CUBANS WERE DETAINED.
WE CONDEMN THESE ACTIONS, AND CALL FOR THE RELEASE OF THE
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DETAINEES.
WE ARE ALSO SHOCKED BY, AND UNRESERVEDLY CONDEMN, THE CUBAN
POLICE BEATINGS OF FOREIGN REPORTERS DURING THE FEBRUARY 27
INCIDENT.
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Q: WHAT DOES THIS INCIDENT SAY ABOUT THE CUBAN REGIME?
A: THE BEATINGS AND DETENTIONS OF INNOCENTS IS A REFLECTION
OF THE ABYSMAL POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC SITUATION FACED BY THE
CUBAN GOVERNMENT, A SITUATION CREATED BY 43 YEARS OF
POLICE-STATE RULE.
THE ONLY REAL SOLUTION TO INCIDENTS LIKE THESE IS AN
IMPROVEMENT IN CUBA'S HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION.
AT THE UPCOMING UN COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS MEETING IN
GENEVA, THE COMMISSION NEEDS TO ONCE AGAIN ADOPT A
RESOLUTION CALLING FOR CHANGE IN CUBA.
Q: ANY COMMENT ON THE ATTACKS ON RADIO MARTI'S HANDLING OF
PS CASTANEDA'S REMARKS?
A: RADIO MARTI AND OTHER MEDIA REPORTED ON FOREIGN SECRETARY
CASTANEDA'S VISIT TO MIAMI. RADIO MARTI IS A PROFESSIONAL
MEDIA OUTLET THAT REPORTEDLY THE STORY ACCURATELY.
WE WELCOME THE MEXICAN FOREIGN MINISTRY'S FEBRUARY 27
STATEMENT, REPEATING FOREIGN SECRETARY CASTANEDA'S REMARK
THAT MEXICO'S EMBASSY REMAINS OPEN TO ALL CUBAN CITIZENS,
INCLUDING DISSIDENTS.
WE HOPE THAT ALL EMBASSIES IN HAVANA MAINTAIN AND EXPAND
RELATIONS WITH DISSIDENTS AND OTHER INDEPENDENT VOICES IN
CUBA.
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2. INL PRESS GUIDANCE, MARCH 1, 2002
-- COLOMBIA: LACK OF COCA AND OPIUM POPPY STATISTICS --
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Q: THE INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL STRATEGY REPORT DOES
NOT HAVE COCA/OPIUM CULTIVATION AND PRODUCTIONS NUMBERS FOR
COLOMBIA? WHY?
A: THE OFFICIAL U.S. GOVERNMENT 2001. COCA AND OPIUM POPPY
CULTIVATION AND PRODUCTION STATISTICS FOR COLOMBIA WERE NOT
AVAILABLE FOR INCLUSION IN THE INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS
CONTROL STRATEGY REPORT. WE HOPE TO HAVE THOSE STATISTICS
SHORTLY.
3. S/WCI PRESS GUIDANCE, MARCH 1, 2002
-- TREATMENT OF DETAINEES IN GUANTANAMO --
Q: COMMENT ON THE TREATMENT OF THE PRISONERS AT GUANTANAMO
(AND THE HUNGER STRIKE)?
A: THE INDIVIDUALS BEING DETAINED AT GUANTANAMO ARE BEING
TREATED HUMANELY CONSISTENT WITH THE GENEVA CONVENTIONS.
EACH DAY THE DETAINEES ARE GIVEN THREE CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE
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MEALS.
THEY HAVE DAILY OPPORTUNITIES TO SHOWER, EXERCISE AND RECEIVE
MEDICAL ATTENTION.
IT IS OF COURSE THE CASE THAT THESE DETAINEES ARE VERY
DANGEROUS PEOPLE, AND ALL APPRORIATE SECURITY PRECAUTIONS ARE
BEING TAKEN.
WE ARE CONTINUING TO INVESTIGATE THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE
DETAINEES AND AL QAEDA, AND ARE COLLECTING ANY RELEVANT
INFORMATION CONCERNING CRIMES THEY MAY HAVE COMMITTED.
THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR THE RED CROSS HAS ACCESS TO
THE DETAINEES AT GUANTANAMO TO MONITOR THE CONDITIONS THERE.
(IF ASKED)
Q. WHAT'S THE STATUS OF THE HUNGER STRIKE?
A: REFER YOU TO THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION.
POWELL
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