Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04SANTODOMINGO3825
2004-06-29 10:57:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Santo Domingo
Cable title:  

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - CUBA: COUNTRY-BY-COUNTRY

Tags:  PREL ETTC CU DR 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
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)

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