LIBERTAD ACT REVIEW: NORWAY'S CUBA POLICIES

C O N F I D E N T I A L OSLO 001142 SIPDIS SIPDIS WHA/CCA E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/03/2017 TAGS: ETRD ETTC PREL CU NO SUBJECT: LIBERTAD ACT REVIEW: NORWAY'S CUBA POLICIES REF: STATE 158768 Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Kevin M. Johnson for reasons 1.4 b and d ¶1. (C) The GON has been increasingly engaged with the GOC in the last few years, seeking broader governmental dialogue while maintaining lower level contacts with Cuban dissidents. There have been no public meetings with dissidents since our last update in May. The only significant visit anticipated in the next half a year is for the Minister of Culture, Trond Giske, to attend a Norwegian film festival in Cuba in December. ¶2. (SBU) Latin American Affairs Section Chief Herberth Linder reports no changes in the few Norwegian business interests in Cuba, which consist of a limited joint venture project with Indian and Spanish oil companies to develop offshore oil resources in Cuba's Exclusive Economic Zone, tourism, and limited imports of Cuban cigars. There are no bilateral trade agreements between Norway and Cuba. ¶3. (SBU) There are very limited private exchanges involving Cuba (the largest of which is a study program run by the private organization Gateway, where up to 40 students spend time in Cuba),none of which are state-sponsored or sanctioned. Norway feels that they have 'good contact' with dissidents, said Linder, and help by keeping an internet cafe open for their use. ¶4. (C) Minister of Culture Trond Giske plans to attend a Norwegian film festival in Cuba in December, but no other high level visits have occurred in the last six months or are planned for the upcoming quarter. He is not expected to meet with dissidents. WHITNEY