Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06THEHAGUE960
2006-04-28 14:26:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy The Hague
Cable title:
NETHERLANDS/CUBA: NSC DRECTED COUNTRY BY COUNTRY
how-toVZCZCXRO8341 PP RUEHAG DE RUEHTC #0960/01 1181426 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 281426Z APR 06 FM AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5558 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUEHAD/AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI 0148 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1930 RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT 0185 RUEHSW/AMEMBASSY BERN 4012 RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 1662 RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 0405 RUEHWN/AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN 1038 RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 0154 RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 0061 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 2607 RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 0612 RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS 0291 RUEHDO/AMEMBASSY DOHA 0258 RUEHHI/AMEMBASSY HANOI 0050 RUEHKG/AMEMBASSY KINGSTON 0379 RUEHKL/AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR 0135 RUEHKU/AMEMBASSY KUWAIT 0221 RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ 0412 RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 0813 RUEHMU/AMEMBASSY MANAGUA 0099 RUEHML/AMEMBASSY MANILA 0311 RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO 0232 RUEHSK/AMEMBASSY MINSK 0128 RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO 0263 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 1657 RUEHBH/AMEMBASSY NASSAU 0176 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 0530 RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO 4933 RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 5042 RUEHZP/AMEMBASSY PANAMA 0264 RUEHPO/AMEMBASSY PARAMARIBO 0281 RUEHPU/AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE 0107 RUEHSP/AMEMBASSY PORT OF SPAIN 0344 RUEHSJ/AMEMBASSY SAN JOSE 0201 RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 0155 RUEHDG/AMEMBASSY SANTO DOMINGO 0174 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 1333 RUEHTL/AMEMBASSY TALLINN 0167 RUEHTG/AMEMBASSY TEGUCIGALPA 0088 RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 2848 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 1702 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS 0297 RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA 0035
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).
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
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