NETHERLANDS/CUBA: NSC DRECTED COUNTRY BY COUNTRY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 THE HAGUE 000960 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CCA E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/26/2011 TAGS: PREL ETRD ETTC CU NL SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/CUBA: NSC DRECTED COUNTRY BY COUNTRY REVIEW REGARDING SUSPENSION OF TITLE III OF THE LIBERTAD ACT REF: STATE 57782 Classified By: Political Counselor Andrew J. Schofer; reasons 1.4 (b) a nd (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: Dutch investments in Cuba are minimal, and post is aware of no bilateral trade agreements between the Cuban and Dutch governments. Post is aware of no exchange programs. The GONL is a leading advocate for human rights, and both the government and Dutch NGOs are active in promoting human rights and democracy in Cuba. Post is aware of no high level diplomatic visits between Cuba and The Netherlands in the past six months. End summary. ¶2. (C) The GONL considers questions related to implementation of the Libertad Act a European Union matter. It prefers to allow the EU to issue a common response to our questions. The GONL shares, however, our common interest in promoting democracy and human rights in Cuba. Moreover, The Netherlands has been extremely useful in promoting a more robust European Union engagement in Latin America and in breaking the Spanish stranglehold on EU policy in the region. Dutch investment in Cuba minimal -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Dutch investment in Cuba remains minimal. Damex Shipyards, which operates a facility in Santiago (El Nispero Shipyard),is the largest Dutch business interest. The large Netherlands-based international bank, ING, which owned the Netherlands Caribbean Bank Cuba in Havana, has pulled out, leaving only a small representation office. UK-Dutch consumer products company Unilever also maintains a sales office. ¶4. (SBU) Post is not aware of any bilateral trade agreements between Cuba and The Netherlands. Exchange programs: None -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Post is aware of no exchange programs between The THE HAGUE 00000960 002 OF 002 Netherlands and Cuba. Dutch actively promote democracy and human rights in Cuba -------------- -------------- ¶6. (C) The Netherlands actively promotes a common EU position in Cuba, with the long-term goal of democratic change. MFA Director of Western Hemisphere Affairs Marion Kappeyne van de Coppello has acknowledged that the EU policy of engagement has failed. In light of Castro,s rumored ill health, she said that The Netherlands is now looking at ways to ensure a free and democratic post-Castro Cuba. She expressed a strong interest in being informed of our evolving contingency planning. ¶7. (C) The GONL adheres to the EU common position on Cuba out of principal, reflecting the Dutch belief that a unified strategy is the most effective foil to Castro's machinations and intrigues. The GONL has, however, taken an increasingly active role in Latin America and has moved closer to Czech positions on Cuba. The Dutch have served as a useful counter to more lenient Spanish influences within the EU. ¶8. (SBU) Several Dutch NGOs (or Dutch braches of NGOs) continue to focus public attention on human rights in Cuba, including Pax Christi, HIVOS, NOVIB and Cuba Futuro. No high level diplomatic visits -------------- ¶9. (SBU) Post is not aware of any high level diplomatic visits between Cuba and The Netherlands in the past six months. ARNALL