IRELAND: NO CHANGE FOR TITLE III/LIBERTAD

C O N F I D E N T I A L DUBLIN 001728 SIPDIS WHA/CCA E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/27/2014 TAGS: ETTC PREL SUBJECT: IRELAND: NO CHANGE FOR TITLE III/LIBERTAD REF: STATE 248337 Classified By: POL/ECON CHIEF MARY DALY, FOR REASONS 1.4 (B),(D) ¶1. (C) On November 24, Emboff discussed reftel with Margaret Stanley, Desk Officer on the Americas Desk at the DFA. According to Stanley, the GOI has taken no specific actions to advance democracy, human rights, and fundamental freedoms in Cuba in the last six months. Ireland is credited to Cuba via its mission in Mexico City and has no diplomats in Cuba. Therefore, Ireland has few bilateral dealings with the Cuban Government and tends to follow EU concensus on Cuba. The GOI supported previously, and is likely to support again, the suspension of the right to bring actions, under Title III of the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act, per reftel. ¶2. (C) Ireland is not a significant trading partner with Cuba. In terms of trade, in 2003, Ireland only exported goods worth euro 521,000 to Cuba, consisting mainly of cork and wood products, beverages, cereal and cereal preparations. Ireland imported goods worth just euro 1,265,000, mainly vegetables, fruit, tobacco and tobacco products. There are no known major Irish investments in Cuba. ¶3. (C) Note: On November 24, an Irish Parliamentarian asked about the Government's attitude regarding the U.S. trade blockade with Cuba. The Government responded by saying, "The Government, in common with our partners in the European Union, believes that the U.S. economic embargo of Cuba seriously hampers the economic development of Cuba and negatively affects all of its people. We reject unilateral measures against Cuba which are contrary to commonly accepted rules of international trade. On 28 October 2004 in the United Nations General Assembly, Ireland and our EU partners again voted in favour of the annual Cuban-tabled resolution entitled the 'Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba.'" End Note. KENNY