COLOMBIA AND CUBA: NSC-DIRECTED COUNTRY BY

C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 003622

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/20/2017
TAGS: ETRD ETTC PREL CO
SUBJECT: COLOMBIA AND CUBA: NSC-DIRECTED COUNTRY BY
COUNTRY REVIEW REGARDING SUSPENSION OF TITLE III OF THE
LIBERTAD ACT

REF: SECSTATE 65523

Classified By: Econ Counselor Lawrence J. Gumbiner per E.O. 12958 Sec.
1.4(c)


1. (C) Colombia has a minimal trading relationship with
Cuba. Total Colombian exports to Cuba in 2006 dropped by
23.7 percent to approximately USD 49 million. Cuba's total
exports to Colombia decreased by 26.2 percent to USD 4
million. Under its ALADI commitments, Colombia grants
preferential access to imports of Cuban marble, medicine,
and medical products. In turn, Cuba grants preferential
access to several Colombian products, including herbicides
and fungicides, flowers, textiles, palm oil, and gelatin.
There are no known government programs involvingmedical or
academic exchanges.


2. (C) Cuba is hosting exploratory talks between the
Colombian government and the country's second largest
terrorist group, the National Liberation Army (ELN). The
sixth round of talks currently underway is focused on
achieving an ELN ceasefire and the release of its hostages.


3. (C) On March 31, 2006 the Foreign Minister, the Minister
of Commerce, and the Minister of Energy and Mines visited
Havana to thank Cuba for hosting GOC-ELN talks. During the
visit, the two countries agreed to discuss removing trade
barriers and extending preferential tariffs at some undefined
point in the future. According to a joint
declaration dated April 3, the talks would cover food
exports, sanitary regulations, and enhanced market access.


4. (C) At the United Nations, Colombia has a policy of
abstaining on all human rights resolutions. It abstained
from the Cuba Resolution in 2001. In subsequent years, it
has not been a member of the UN Commission on Human Rights,
nor has it sought a seat on the new UN Human Rights Council.


5. (U) On November 8, 2006, Colombia voted yes on the General
Assembly resolution on the U.S. embargo against Cuba
(A/Res/61/11),which calls upon all states to repeal such
laws as the "Helms-Burton Act."
Drucker