SUSPENSION OF TITLE III OF LIBERTAD ACT - URUGUAY

RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHMN #1155 3391545 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 051545Z DEC 06 FM AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6603 INFO RUCNMER/MERCOSUR COLLECTIVE RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA 0077 ,C O N F I D E N T I A L MONTEVIDEO 001155 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR WHA/BSC AND WHA/CCA E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/05/2016 TAGS: ETRD ETTC PREL CU UY SUBJECT: SUSPENSION OF TITLE III OF LIBERTAD ACT - URUGUAY REF: STATE 191752 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires James D. Nealon, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Upon taking office on March 1, 2005, the left-of-center Frente Amplio government immediately renewed diplomatic relations with Cuba, which had been previously suspended by the Batlle administration. This move appears to have been a gesture by President Vazquez to the more radical elements of his coalition, including Foreign Minister Gargano, a strong proponent of stronger ties with Cuba. Gargano and many in the Frente Amplio regularly criticize the U.S. embargo on Cuba. The GOU opened an Embassy in Havana on June 30, 2005, and Cuba's ambassador to Uruguay was sworn in on November 7, 2005. ¶2. (C) The only two ministerial-level visits to Cuba occurred earlier this year, one in January 2006 by Social Programs Minister Arismendi (Communist Party),and the other in April 2006, when Health Minister Munoz accompanied a group of Uruguayan patients for treatment in Cuba. Agriculture Minister and ex-Tupamaro guerilla Jose Mujica accompanied Munoz on that occasion. The only high-level Cuban visit to Uruguay was the presence of Vice-President Carlos Lage at the Ibero-American Summit of November 2006. Last year, the GOU accepted Cuba's offer to conduct ophtalmological interventions free of charge for Uruguayan cataract patients, under a program called ""Operacion Milagro"" (""Operation Miracle""). Over 1,300 patients have been treated so far. The initiative has raised strong protests from the Uruguayan Association of Ophtalmologists. The Cuban government also offers scholarships for Uruguayan medical students, with about 40 Uruguayan medical students graduating in Cuba every year. Post is not aware of any Uruguayan investments in Cuba or Cuban investments in Uruguay, nor of any bilateral trade agreements between Uruguay and Cuba. ¶3. (C) The GOU's involvement with Cuba appears quite limited to a few areas of medical cooperation and to some expressions of support by the more radical elements of the Frente Amplio government. Minister Arismendi was ridiculed by large sections of the Frente and by the opposition when she suggested, upon her return from Cuba, that Uruguay apply Cuban ""experiences"" in the area of education. While Post is not aware of any declarations by the GOU criticizing the human rights situation in Cuba, ForMin Gargano had to publicly admit that Cuba is not a democracy, after he was criticized for suggesting that Cuba be admitted into Mercosur in May 2005. Other Mercosur members and several of Gargano's Cabinet colleagues pointed out to Gargano that Cuba would not fullfill the ""democracy clause"" condition for Mercosur membership. Nealon ...