CUBA: REVIEW OF SUSPENSION OF LIBERTAD ACT TITLE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SANTO DOMINGO 003161 SIPDIS DEPT FOR WHA/CCA, WHA/CAR, WHA/EPSC, USSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: CU ETTC DR PREL SMIG EINV ETRD SUBJECT: CUBA: REVIEW OF SUSPENSION OF LIBERTAD ACT TITLE III - DOMINICAN REPUBLIC REF: A. STATE 108052 ¶B. 04 SANTO DOMINGO 6466 ¶C. 04 SANTO DOMINGO 6584 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Subsequent to the inauguration of the administration of President Leonel Fernandez last year, the Dominican Republic shifted its vote on the Cuba resolution at the annual UN Human Rights Committee meeting from "yes" (with the United States) in 2004 to "abstain" in 2005. However, there has been no other marked change in the Dominican Republic's situation with regard to Cuba. Interaction is limited to officially agreed exchanges involving small numbers of Cuban sports coaches and Dominican medical students and visits to Cuba by private Dominican tourists. The Fernandez administration has continued to take a low profile on Cuban issues. In response to Ref A, Embassy considers that U.S. national interests and Dominican Government actions justify renewal of the waiver of Title III of the Libertad Act with regard to Dominican businesses. End summary. Dominican businesses and Cuba - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶2. (SBU) As in our last report (Ref B),Embassy considers that U.S. national interests and the actions of the Dominican Government 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 significant trade with Cuba. Embassy inquiries have not resulted in identification of any Dominican companies or entities with investments or joint ventures that would trigger Title III concerns. There is very little Dominican investment in Cuba, and Embassy has no information about any conflict between Dominican investors and U.S. citizens with property claims in Cuba. Embassy has not received complaints by any U.S. citizens against any Dominican company related to any investment in Cuba or Dominican Republic-Cuba trade. Dominican votes at the UNCHR - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶3. (U) In April, during the annual meeting of the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva, the Dominican Republic abstained on a resolution calling for continuation of the UNCHR's scrutiny of the human rights situation in Cuba. The resolution, sponsored by the United States, was approved. This represented a Dominican shift from last year, when under the administration of former President Mejia the Dominican Republic cast a decisive vote approving a resolution on Cuba, Also in April, 2005, the Dominican Republic joined the United States in opposing a Cuban-sponsored resolution criticizing treatment of detainees at Guantanamo. Cuban-Dominican technical cooperation and exchanges - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶4. (SBU) The administration of President Fernandez has continued to take a low profile on Cuban issues. Recently the local press ran a photo of about 15 Cuban sports coaches visiting the Dominican Republic to help train local athletes, and reported a sister-city arrangement between the mayor of the north coast city of Puerto Plata and the Cuban city of Matanzas. MFA Americas Director Francia Sencion told poloff on May 17 that there has been no increase in the number or diversity of exchanges since the annual Cuban-Dominican Mixed Commission meeting last November, notwithstanding statements to the press by both sides at that time favoring increased bilateral cooperation. The main activities, which are valued by Dominican authorities, continue to be medical studies in Cuba provided to indigent Dominicans and exchanges of sports trainers to improve performance of Dominican athletes. ¶5. (SBU) According to Sencion, 50 Dominicans per year continue to receive all-inclusive scholarships at a medical school in Havana; at any time there are some 200-250 students enrolled in various stages of their medical education. These students are vetted by Dominican authorities to ensure they are among the brightest Dominican youth and are from low-income families. She has visited the medical school and was impressed by the quality of the instruction and the students' apparent success in learning in that environment. ¶6. (SBU) The Dominican Government and sports associations also appreciate the periodic visits by Cuban sports trainers, who are considered to be skilled and effective. The Cubans' training assistance has significantly boosted the performance of Dominican athletes, as evidenced for example by their winning many medals during the Panamerican Games that were held here in 2003. ¶7. (SBU) There has been no increase in the level of activity in other areas highlighted by the agreed cooperation and exchange program for 2005, according to Sencion. These areas (Ref C) include primary sanitation systems, agriculture and animal husbandry, culture, science and technology, higher education, women's issues, fishing industry, and physical planning. ¶8. (SBU) Sencion was unaware of the date for the next mixed commission meeting, which had been planned for September of this year in Havana. Technical Secretary of the Presidency Temistocles Montas, a top official close to President Fernandez, heads the Dominican side in these annual talks. ¶9. (SBU) Embassy contacts occasionally tell us they have visited Cuba as tourists. Embassy's impression is that the number of such visitors is small. 10.(SBU) According to local press, a 2002 bilateral accord on "administration of criminal sentences" provides for exchanges of prisoners sentenced as resident aliens so they can serve their prison time in their country of nationality. Cuban authorities reportedly have approved the first Dominican Government request for transfer of a prisoner, who was arrested in 2002 shortly before the agreement was signed, convicted, and sentenced to seven years for attempting to smuggle Cuban baseball players to the Dominican Republic using false passports. Kubiske