BELARUS: LIBERTAD ACT

UNCLAS MINSK 000422 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETRD ETTC PREL BO CU SUBJECT: BELARUS: LIBERTAD ACT REF: A. 06 MINSK 1255 ¶B. STATE 65523 ¶C. 06 MINSK 1317 Summary -------------- ¶1. (SBU) Although the frequency of high-level contacts between Belarus and CUBA has subsided in 2007, the GOB continues to hope to build economic ties with Cuba, strongly supports the Cuban government, and has no interest in promoting democracy, human rights or free market reform. End summary. Trade and Exchanges Continue -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Please see ref A for information on which remains accurate for responses to ref B questions one through three. Further to an exchange agreement (ref B),in February, a group from Belarusian Television traveled to Cuba. Furthermore, on December 28, Cuban Ambassador to Belarus Omar Medina Quintero stated Belarus and CUBA would continue bilateral cooperation in education, healthcare and transportation (ref C). Support for Pro-Cuban Positions While Ignoring Human Rights -------------- -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Question Four: Belarus has done nothing to support democracy and human rights in Belarus. On April 27, the Belarusian parliamentary commission on international relations and the working group on cooperation with the Cuban parliament passed a resolution denouncing the sentencing of Cuban nationals in the United States for spying. The declaration made no mention of human rights abuses in Cuba. Delegations: Belarusian Deputy Foreign Minister to CUBA -------------- -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Question Five: December 7-8 a delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Viktor Gaysenok visited Havana for a meeting of the Intergovernmental Mixed Commission for Economic and Trade Collaboration. Gaysenok's delegation reportedly included officials from the Belarusian state-owned petrochemical company Belneftekhim, Belvneshekonbank bank and the Ministry of Industry. Moore