NSC-DIRECTED REVIEW REGARDING SUSPENSION OF TITLE

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINGSTON 002618 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CAR (BENT) AND WHA/CCA E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/30/2015 TAGS: CU ETRD ETTC PREL JM SUBJECT: NSC-DIRECTED REVIEW REGARDING SUSPENSION OF TITLE III OF THE LIBERTAD ACT REF: A. SECSTATE 207359 ¶B. KINGSTON 01447 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: Ambassador Brenda Johnson for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d). ¶1. (SBU) Post is unaware of any recent measures taken by the GOJ to advance democracy, human rights, and fundamental freedoms in Cuba. Post has no evidence that the GOJ has substantially changed its policies or actions toward Cuba in the six months since the submission of our last assessment in June 2005 (Ref B). Jamaica continues to maintain cordial diplomatic relations with Cuba, its close geographical neighbor. ¶2. (U) In the past six months, Post is aware of two cooperative ventures between Havana and Kingston. In July, the Cuban government expanded the medical program &Mision Milagro8 (Mission Miracle) to residents of the Caribbean, providing operations in Cuba free of charge for people with cataracts or other treatable eye conditions. Many of the beneficiaries of the Cuban eye ophthalmological program are indigent Jamaicans, many of whom had long been languishing on GOJ public health waiting lists. This type of assistance by the GOC has great public relations value, and the Castro government's motives in providing such care are rarely if ever questioned by Jamaicans. The program has received much favorable press in Jamaica, with a number of rural residents availing themselves of the plan. ¶3. (U) Jamaica and Cuba have also entered into a cooperation agreement on energy conservation, under which Cuba will provide energy-saving compact fluorescent bulbs to every household in East Kingston and Port Royal by March 2006 (both are poorer areas). Furthermore, Cuba will assist in Jamaica,s Rural Electrification Program and explore the uses of hydroponics and biotechnology for inner city communities. In return, Jamaica will offer technical expertise and support for the establishment of wind farms in Cuba. ¶4. (C) Post continues to believe that suspension of the right to bring action in U.S. courts against entities and nationals trafficking in confiscated properties in Cuba is necessary to U.S. interests. Singling out Jamaican entities or nationals for prosecution would be counterproductive in achieving other USG objectives. In Post,s view, proceeding with the implementation of Title III of the Libertad Act would seriously complicate, and perhaps even compromise, our efforts in areas of agreement. Actions against Jamaican nationals would likely provoke a strong response from GOJ, at a time when continued dialogue and close cooperation on issues such as supporting the upcoming Haitian elections and continuing our engagement with the GOJ to get them to better appreciate Venezuela's likely hidden motives in PetroCaribe implementation, is needed. TIGHE