PHILIPPINES-CUBA ECONOMIC TIES ARE MINIMAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANILA 003804 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/MTS AND WHA/CCA E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/03/2017 TAGS: ETRD ETTC PREL RP CU SUBJECT: PHILIPPINES-CUBA ECONOMIC TIES ARE MINIMAL REF: STATE 158768 Classified By: Economic Counselor Larry Memmott, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d ). ¶1. (C) Below are Post's responses to Department's questions about Philippine economic policies and actions with respect to Cuba. The following paragraph numbers are keyed to the points in paragraph 5 of reftel: ¶A. (C) Post is not aware of any investments in Cuba by Philippine businesses. ¶B. (C) The Philippines and Cuba do not have any bilateral trade agreements. In September 2001, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry signed an agreement with its Cuban counterpart, but no activities have been undertaken under this agreement. ¶C. (C) There are no formal academic exchange programs or scholarships between the Philippines and Cuba. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that four Filipino medical students have filed consular registrations with the Philippine embassy in Havana. There is no Cuban-paid medical travel, nor are there Cuban doctors working here. The Government of Cuba reportedly approached the Philippine government within the past five years offering a medical exchange program, but the Philippines did not reply formally. ¶D. (C) The Philippine government has not issued any public statements on human rights issues in Cuba, and did not comment publicly on the transfer of power from Fidel Castro to Raul Castro. ¶E. (C) The most recent high-level diplomatic visit between the Philippines and Cuba was President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's attendance at the summit of the Non-Aligned Movement in Havana in September 2006. The previous high-level visit was that of the Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister to Manila in September 2001. KENNEY