SLOVAK EMBASSY IN HAVANA CONTINUES EFFORTS TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000551

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/06/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM CU LO
SUBJECT: SLOVAK EMBASSY IN HAVANA CONTINUES EFFORTS TO
SUPPORT ACTIVISTS

REF: A. BRATISLAVA 359

B. BRATISLAVA 221

Classified By: CDA a.i. Lawrence R. Silverman for Reasons 1.4 (B) and (
D).


1. (C) MFA Director for Americas Dusan Kristofik told
Poloff June 30 that the Slovak Ambassador to Cuba recently
traveled to Miami, Florida, for meetings with Cuban dissident
groups there. The groups gave the Slovak Ambassador computer
equipment, which he then brought back as "diplomatic cargo."
Some of the computer equipment was donated directly to
opposition groups in Cuba, while the rest -- including
satellite modems -- will be used to install internet
terminals in the Slovak Embassy for public use.


2. (C) Kristofik reiterated that the Slovak Embassy in
Havana has been very active; the Slovak DCM recently traveled
around the country to meet with people. In addition, in
Bratislava, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is working to get
the Slovak Ministry of Education to waive the requirement
that foreign scholarship students from Cuba receive the
approval of their home-country Education ministry, arguing
that Cuba is a unique case. The Slovaks hope to be able to
bring over Cuban students who are not hand-picked by the
Castro regime.


3. (C) Meanwhile, the Cuban Embassy in Bratislava is still
headed by a Charge d'Affaires, and Kristofik was unsure
whether the departed Ambassador would be replaced (ref A).
The Cuban government told him to expect a 6-month delay
before the arrival of a new Ambassador; Kristofik considers
this a "waiting period" during which Havana will see if the
Slovaks continue their democratization efforts in Cuba,
precipitating a downgrade in relations.
SILVERMAN