HAITI: NSC-DIRECTED COUNTRY-BY-COUNTRY REVIEW

C O N F I D E N T I A L PORT AU PRINCE 000807 SIPDIS SIPDIS WHA/CCA WHA/CAR E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/05/2016 TAGS: CU ETRD ETTC PREL HA SUBJECT: HAITI: NSC-DIRECTED COUNTRY-BY-COUNTRY REVIEW REGARDING SUSPENSION OF TITLE III OF THE LIBERTAD ACT REF: (A) SECSTATE 57782 (B) PORT AU PRINCE 0706 Classified By: Douglas Griffiths, DCM, Reason 1.5 (b) and (d) In response to questions in ref A: ¶1. Despite their close geographical proximity, there is little or no Haitian direct investment in Cuba. ¶2. Haiti has no bilateral trade agreements with Cuba. ¶3. Haiti hosts approximately 500 Cuban doctors who provide medical services to the country. During an April 12-14, 2006 visit by Haitian President-elect Preval, Cuba agreed to fund an unspecified number of medical scholarships for Haitians to study in Cuba. See question 5 for more details on the Preval visit to Cuba. ¶4. Post is unaware of any actions taken by the Interim Government of Haiti (IGOH) to advance democracy, human rights, and fundamental freedoms in Cuba. ¶5. President-elect Preval visited Cuba April 12-14, 2006. Preval underwent successful hernia surgery while in Cuba and twice met Fidel Castro. During the visit, the Cuban government agreed to provide additional medical services to Haiti, primarily in the form of more doctors and additional funding for clinics and medical supplies, particularly in rural areas (ref B). An aid to President-elect Preval told Emboff that Preval hopes that the Cuban-trained Haitian doctors will eventually take the place of Cuban doctors in the Haitian countryside. In addition, Cuba announced that it would send energy technicians to Haiti to help resolve Haiti,s electricity problems. SANDERSON