Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04BUENOSAIRES3364
2004-12-01 21:06:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Buenos Aires
Cable title:  

SUSPENSION OF TITLE III OF THE LIBERTAD ACT:

Tags:  ETTC PREL CU AR MOLINA 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L BUENOS AIRES 003364 

SIPDIS

DEPT. FOR WHA/CCA; WHA/BSC:RFLEITMAN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/30/2014
TAGS: ETTC PREL CU AR MOLINA
SUBJECT: SUSPENSION OF TITLE III OF THE LIBERTAD ACT:
COUNTRY REVIEW

REF: A. SECSTATE 248337


B. BUENOS AIRES 1903

Classified By: AMBASSADOR LINO GUTIERREZ FOR REASONS 1.4(B) AND (D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUENOS AIRES 003364

SIPDIS

DEPT. FOR WHA/CCA; WHA/BSC:RFLEITMAN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/30/2014
TAGS: ETTC PREL CU AR MOLINA
SUBJECT: SUSPENSION OF TITLE III OF THE LIBERTAD ACT:
COUNTRY REVIEW

REF: A. SECSTATE 248337


B. BUENOS AIRES 1903

Classified By: AMBASSADOR LINO GUTIERREZ FOR REASONS 1.4(B) AND (D)


1. (C) The GOA continues to pursue what it refers to as a
policy of constructive engagement toward Cuba on democracy
and human rights issues. The Presidency and Foreign Ministry
argue that engagement and the influence that comes with it --
however limited -- is the best way to promote reform in Cuba.
They point to their advocacy of the case of Cuban physician
Dr. Hilda Molina, who has to date been refused permission to
travel to Argentina to visit her son. The GOA has been
quietly pressing the GOC to allow Dr. Molina to travel to
Argentina, and argues that securing this permission advances
the cause of human rights in Cuba. The Ambassador, DCM and
senior USG visitors, including former Presidential Envoy
Reich and U.S. Ambassador to the OAS Maisto, have repeatedly
stressed strong USG disagreement with the GOA approach.


2. (C) Senior contacts at the Foreign Ministry privately
recognize the absence of democracy in Cuba and violations of
human rights, but consistently argue that engagement is the
most effective means of addressing the situation. They argue
that Argentina is committed to achieving the same end as the
U.S. -- a democratic Cuba integrated into the rest of the
Western Hemisphere. Rumors of a pending visit to Cuba by
President Nestor Kirchner have circulated for some time.
Foreign Minister Bielsa told the Ambassador on October 29
that relations with the Castro regime had become distinctly
cooler in recent months over Castro's refusal to grant the
travel permit to Dr. Molina. Bielsa said that Molina had
become a "bottom line, non-negotiable" issue for the GOA and,
barring a resolution, made a proposed visit by First Lady,
Senator Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, unlikely. Bielsa
said, however, that if the First Lady did travel to Cuba, it
would be contingent on her being allowed to visit with
dissident spouses (the so called "ladies in white") which he
did not think likely. (Comment: Bielsa did not even mention
the possibility of a visit by President Kirchner. It bears
watching, however, what effect--if any--the recent release of
several Cuban dissidents will have on GOA thinking.)


3. (U) The GOA imposes no requirement to register foreign
direct investment and the Embassy has been unable to uncover
any major investment by Argentine nationals or Argentine
public corporations in Cuba. Trade relations are small and
limited by Cuba's hard currency shortages to purchase
Argentine agricultural products. Argentine exports to Cuba
in 2003 were valued at USD 23.3 million. For January -
September 2004, exports were reported at USD 71 million, a
367.2 percent increase over the same period from the previous
year. Imports from Cuba in 2003 were USD 1.2 million. From
January - September 2004, imports were USD 984 thousand, down
1.6 percent from the same period in 2003.
GUTIERREZ