POLAND: RESPONSE FOR LIBERTAD ACT

C O N F I D E N T I A L WARSAW 002475 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR WHA/CCA AND EUR/NCE FOR B PUTNEY E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/27/2016 TAGS: ECON CU ETRD ETTC PREL PL SUBJECT: POLAND: RESPONSE FOR LIBERTAD ACT REF: SECSTATE 191752 Classified By: Economic Counselor Richard Rorvig for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Post provides the following in response to reftel questions. ¶2. (C) According to Jan Przegalinski, Cuba Specialist at the Ministry of Economy, Poland has no investments in Cuba. However, there is a small amount of trade. Poland expoQs approximately USD 14 million worth of goods to Cuba, including milk, butter, and fertilizer. Polish imports from Cuba include fruit juices and cigars, totaling approximately USD 6 million. There are no bilateral trade agreements in affect. ¶3. (C) There are no known exchange programs between Poland and Cuba, including researchers, doctors, etc. ¶4. (C) Poland is one of the most active countries in Europe in promoting democracy and human rights in Cuba. The Polish government maintains regular contact with Cuban opposition groups, including an ongoing relationship with Oswaldo Paya and the Damas Blancas. The Polish Embassy is one of the most forward-leaning EU missions in Havana. In January 2006, the GOP and USG sponsored jointly a DVC between former President Lech Walesa, speaking from Embassy Warsaw and Cuban opposition leaders speaking from USINT Havana. On December 11, Poland will host a conference entitled "From Solidarity to Democracy: Can Cuba Achieve Freedom" to provide lessons from the Solidarity movement that may be applicable to the Cuban situation. Participants will include Cuban dissidents and U.S. and European experts, as well as messages from Oscar Arias Sanchez, Vaclav Havel, Jose Maria Aznar and Madeline Albright. ¶5. (C) There have been no high-level diplomatic contacts between Poland and Cuba in the past six months. Poland has diplomatic relations with Cuba, but they are run at the level of Charge d'Affaires. The GOP declined to send a senior representative to the recent NAM meeting in Havana, although it did send an experienced former Ambassador to serve as temporary Charge during the meeting and raise the level of contacts with the Cuban opposition. ASHE