C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 003162

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR PRM A/S TAFT, PRM/A, PRM/AAA, AF/S, AF/PD,
WHA/CCA

NAIROBI FOR AMBASSADOR CARSON FROM AMBASSADOR MCDONALD
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PAGE 02 HARARE 03162 131211Z

NAIROBI ALSO FOR REFCOORD AND INS

ROME FOR INS

LONDON FOR PFLAUMER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/13/10
TAGS: PREF PGOV PHUM PREL ZI CU KE
SUBJECT: KENYANS REFUSE TO ISSUE TRANSIT VISAS FOR CUBAN
DOCTORS

REF: NAIROBI 4914

CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR TOM MCDONALD FOR REASONS 1.5
B/D.


1. (C) ON JUNE 13, AMBASSADOR MCDONALD SPOKE WITH
AMBASSADOR DR. HUKKA WARIO, HIGH COMMISSIONER OF KENYA
TO ZIMBABWE, TO SECURE THE LATTER'S ASSISTANCE IN
ISSUING TRANSIT VISAS FOR CUBAN DOCTORS LEONEL CORDOVA
RODRIGUEZ AND NORIS DEL CARMEN PENA MARTINEZ. OVER THE
JUNE 10-11 WEEKEND HIGH COMMISSIONER WARIO HAD ASSURED
AMBASSADOR MCDONALD THAT THE VISA WOULD NOT BE A
PROBLEM, AND THAT IT WAS HIS OPINION THAT THE CUBANS
WOULD BE ABLE TO BOARD A KENYA AIRWAYS FLIGHT FOR
NAIROBI WITHOUT VISAS. THE KENYAN VISAS WILL COST
US50.00 EACH.


2. (C) AMBASSADOR WARIO TOLD AMBASSADOR MCDONALD THAT
AS OF 11:00 A.M. JUNE 13, HE HAD RECEIVED NO REPEAT NO
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INSTRUCTION FROM HIS FOREIGN MINISTRY REGARDING THE CASE
OF THE CUBAN DOCTORS (REFTEL). "THERE IS NOTHING I CAN
DO," HE SHRUGGED. MOREOVER, CONTRADICTING HIS EARLIER
COMMENTS, THE KENYAN HIGH COMMISSIONER NOW REQUIRES
DOCTORS CORDOVA AND PENA TO BE PRESENT WHEN APPLYING FOR
THEIR KENYAN VISA. THE TWO DOCTORS CONTINUE TO BE HELD
BY ZIMBABWEAN IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES AT GOROMONZI
DETENTION CENTER.


3. (C) ACTION REQUESTED FOR NAIROBI: POST WOULD
APPRECIATE EMBASSY NAIROBI CONVEYING THE SENSE OF HIGH
COMMISSIONER WARIO'S RESPONSE WITH THE RESPECT TO THE
CUBANS TO APPROPRIATE KENYAN FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICIALS.
IF THE KENYAN FOREIGN MINISTRY AGREES TO INSTRUCT ITS
HIGH COMMISSIONER IN HARARE IN WRITING, POST WOULD
APPRECIATE A COPY OF THAT INSTRUCTION TO PRESENT TO THE
KENYAN HIGH COMMISSION WHEN WE AGAIN ATTEMPT TO APPLY
FOR VISAS FOR THE CUBAN DOCTORS.


4. (C) ACTION REQUESTED FOR DEPARTMENT: IF THE GOK
CANNOT GET ITS ACT TOGETHER IN THE NEXT 24 HOURS, POST
WOULD APPRECIATE AUTHORIZATION TO APPROACH THE HIGH
COMMISSION OF CANADA. WE PROPOSE THAT CANADA ALLOW THE
CUBAN DOCTORS TO STAY A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME IN THEIR
TERRITORY IN ORDER TO COMPLETE THEIR UNITED STATES
IMMIGRATION PROCESSING REQUIREMENTS.

MCDONALD

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