TIMOR-LESTE WILL VOTE FOR RESOLUTION CONDEMNING CUBA

UNCLAS DILI 000352 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MTS AND IO/USUN - MARIZ E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: UNGA PREL PHUM ETRD CU TT SUBJECT: TIMOR-LESTE WILL VOTE FOR RESOLUTION CONDEMNING CUBA EMBARGO REF: A) STATE 00148506, B) 00148553 ¶1. (SBU) Ambassador met October 26 with Foreign Minister Zacarias Albano da Costa to urge that Timor-Leste vote against Cuba's UNGA resolution condemning the U.S. embargo (reftel A). Citing the President's recent speech (reftel B),we said that the Castro regime is continuing its longstanding practices of political repression, human rights violations, and economic mismanagement. We argued that by shifting the focus on to the embargo, the Cuban regime was attempting to blame outside actors for its failed policies and deplorable conditions in the country. ¶2. (SBU) Da Costa said he shared our concerns, but that Timor-Leste would, as in past years, vote to support Cuba's resolution. He had already instructed Timor-Leste's Mission to the U.N. to that effect. He said that Timor-Leste would, however, make a statement of vote expressing concern over the Cuban regime's human rights record RECTOR