(CUBA) 2002 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HAVANA 007763

S/CT FOR REAP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER CUBA'>CU
SUBJECT: (CUBA) 2002 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT

REF: STATE 201772


1. RESPONSES ARE KEYED TO REFTEL.


2. A) THERE HAVE BEEN NO SIGNIFICANT ACTIONS
TAKEN BY THE CUBAN GOVERNMENT TO SUPPORT THE
GLOBAL COALITION AGAINST TERRORISM. THE GOC
REMAINS OPPOSED TO THE U.S.-LED COALITION
PROSECUTING THE WAR ON GLOBAL TERRORISM AND
IS ACTIVELY CRITICAL OF MANY ASSOCIATED U.S.
POLICIES AND ACTIONS. THE GOC DID NOT
PROTEST THE USE OF GUANTANAMO BASE TO HOUSE
ILLEGAL COMBATANTS FROM THE CONFLICT IN
AFGHANISTAN, HOWEVER, AND IT ALSO RESOLVED
LONG-STANDING ISSUES RELATED TO EXPANDING THE
AIRSPACE AT THE BASE. THE CHANGES FACILITATE
THE LANDING OF LARGER TRANSPORT-TYPE
AIRCRAFT, GIVING AIRCRAFT CARRYING UNLAWFUL
COMBATANTS THE ABILITY TO LAND AT GUANTANAMO.
THE GOC ALSO AGREED TO FINALLY ALLOW
COMMUNICATION BETWEEN AIRCRAFT AND THE HAVANA
CONTROL TOWER WHEN NECESSARY. CUBA SIGNED
AND RATIFIED ALL 12 INTERNATIONAL
COUNTERTERRORISM CONVENTIONS IN 2001.

B) POST IS NOT AWARE OF ANY JUDICIAL
RESPONSE IN THE GLOBAL FIGHT AGAINST
TERRORISM AFTER THE TERRORIST ACTS OF 9/11.

C) THE GOC DID NOT EXTRADITE NOR REQUEST
EXTRADITION OF SUSPECTED TERRORISTS FOR
PROSECUTION DURING 2002. IMPLEMENTATION OF
THE U.S.-CUBA EXTRADITION TREATY WAS
SUSPENDED FOLLOWING THE BREAK IN DIPLOMATIC
RELATIONS IN 1961.

D) ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NO USG REQUEST FOR GOC
PROSECUTION OR EXTRADITION OF SUSPECTED
TERRORISTS, CUBAN AFFINITY WITH AND SYMPATHY
FOR COUNTRIES, GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS WHO
PURPORT TO ADVOCATE INTERESTS ANTITHETICAL TO
THE UNITED STATES COULD IMPEDE CUBAN
GOVERNMENT PROSECUTION OF TERRORISTS.
EXTRADITION COULD BE IMPEDED BY THE LACK OF A
FUNCTIONING EXTRADITION TREATY.

E) THE GOC HAS HINDERED USG EFFORTS TO
COMBAT TERRORISM BY SOWING MISINFORMATION
THROUGH "WALK-INS" AT SEVERAL US MISSIONS
AROUND THE WORLD. CUBAN OFFICIALS HAVE
PUBLICLY ATTACKED THE USG FOR EXECUTING
"DISPROPORTIONATE" MILITARY RESPONSES AGAINST
TERRORISTS AND FOR DIVERTING INTERNATIONAL
FORA FROM ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL PROGRAMS IN
FAVOR OF MILITARY ACTIONS. THERE HAS BEEN NO
POSITIVE ASSISTANCE.

F) THE GOC HAS TAKEN NO MAJOR
COUNTERTERRORISM EFFORTS IN 2002.

G) CUBA HARBORS UP TO 20 MEMBERS OF ETA IN
CUBA, AND PROVIDES SOME DEGREE OF SAFEHAVEN
AND SUPPORT TO MEMBERS OF THE COLOMBIAN
TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS FARC AND ELN. THE
GOVERNMENT OF COLOMBIA HAS PUBLICLY INDICATED
THAT IT SEEKS THE GOC'S CONTINUED MEDIATION
WITH ELN AGENTS IN CUBA. A GOC SPOKESPERSON
REVEALED IN AUGUST 2001 THAT SINN FEIN'S
OFFICIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR CUBA AND LATIN
AMERICA, NIALL CONNOLLY, WHO WAS ARRESTED IN
COLOMBIA UNDER SUSPICION OF TRAINING
COLOMBIAN REBELS IN THE USE OF EXPLOSIVES,
WAS BASED IN HAVANA FOR FIVE YEARS. HIS
TRIAL IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN THIS YEAR IN
BOGOTA. IN ADDITION, CUBA PROVIDES REFUGE TO
APPROXIMATELY 73 FUGITIVES FROM U.S. JUSTICE,
INCLUDING JOANNE CHESIMARD, A CONVICTED FELON
WHO IS WANTED FOR INTERSTATE FLIGHT AND
MURDER OF A NEW JERSEY STATE TROOPER. MOST
OF THE FUGITIVES HAVE BEEN CONVICTED IN U.S.
COURTS FOR TERRORIST-RELATED CRIMES, I.E.
AIRCRAFT HIJACKING.

H) POST IS UNAWARE OF ANY GOC STATEMENTS IN
SUPPORT OF A TERRORIST-SUPPORTING COUNTRY IN

2002.

I) THERE HAS BEEN NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN
THE GOC'S ATTITUDE TOWARD INTERNATIONAL OR
DOMESTIC TERRORISM IN 2002. IT CONTINUES TO
DENOUNCE TERRORIST ACTIONS ALLEGEDLY
PERPETRATED AGAINST CUBA BY EXILES IN MIAMI
IT SAYS ARE BACKED OR TOLERATED BY THE USG.

J) THERE HAVE BEEN NO JOINT U.S.-CUBA
COUNTERTERRORISM INITIATIVES AND EFFORTS.

K) POST IS NOT AWARE OF ANY U.S. REQUESTS
FOR COOPERATION FROM THE GOC DURING THE
PREVIOUS FIVE YEARS IN THE INVESTIGATION OR
PROSECUTION OF AN ACT OF INTERNATIONAL
TERRORISM AGAINST U.S. CITIZENS OR INTERESTS.

L) AS THERE HAVE BEEN NO U.S. REQUESTS FOR
COOPERATION FROM THE GOC IN THE PREVIOUS FIVE
YEARS, POST HAS NO INFORMATION THAT WOULD BE
RELEVANT TO THIS SUB-SECTION.