DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - CUBA: COUNTRY-BY-COUNTRY

UNCLAS SANTO DOMINGO 003825 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR WHA/CCA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL ETTC CU DR SUBJECT: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - CUBA: COUNTRY-BY-COUNTRY REVIEW OF WAIVER OF TITLE III, LIBERTAD ACT REF: A. (A) STATE 135512 ¶B. (B) STATE 100077 (NOTAL) ¶1. (U)The Dominican Government this year provided decisive support to the cause of improving prospects for human rights and democracy in Cuba. Secretary Powell sent a letter to President Mejia (Ref B) thanking him for the Dominican Republic's "yes" vote on the Cuba resolution in the 60th Human Rights Commission meeting in Geneva. The resolution passed by one vote, so the Dominican support was crucial to passage. Equally important was subsequent GODR support for a procedural motion that resulted in the withdrawal of a Cuban resolution critical of U.S. policy concerning detainees at the Guantanamo Naval Base. Dominican support helped prevent the Cuban Government from diverting attention from its violations of the human rights of the Cuban people. ¶2. (SBU) A senior official of the Secretariat of Industry and Trade told us June 23 that there is very little Dominican investment in Cuba and that he is unaware of any conflict between Dominican investors and American citizens with property claims in Cuba. Similarly, Embassy is unaware of any complaints by American citizens against any Dominican company related to any investment in Cuba or DR-Cuba trade. Embassy believes that U.S. national interests and the actions of the GODR fully justify a renewal of the waiver of Title III of the Libertad Act with regard to Dominican businesses that may be involved in joint ventures with the Government of Cuba or have significant trading relationships with Cuba. ¶3. (SBU) Embassy considers that, if the waiver were not renewed and an American citizen were to bring suit against a Dominican entity under Title III, the extraterritorial reach of Title III could affect future Dominican support for diplomatic initiatives on behalf of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Cuba. HERTELL