CUBA COUNTRY REVIEW FOR TITLE III SUSPENSION OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARAMARIBO 000250 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CCA E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/21/2017 TAGS: CU ETRD ETTC PREL SUBJECT: CUBA COUNTRY REVIEW FOR TITLE III SUSPENSION OF LIBERTAD ACT: RESPONSE FROM SURINAME REF: STATE 65523 Classified By: AMBASSADOR LBSH, REASONS 1.4 (b) (d) (C) CONFIDENTIAL, ENTIRE TEXT Responses to paragraph five in reftel: ¶1. Post is unaware of any host country investment in Cuba. ¶2. Post is similarly unaware of any bi-lateral trade agreements with Cuba. ¶3. "Operation Miracle", Cuba's "health diplomacy" program of free cataract eye surgeries, is very active and popular in Suriname. Several thousand Surinamers have traveled to Cuba for this surgery. The program is also well publicized by Suriname's Minister of Health, who received his medical training in Cuba. The Minister also has a Cuban wife. An unknown number of Surinamers study in Cuba. Cuban doctors also work in Suriname. ¶4. Suriname has not worked to promote the advancement of democracy and human rights in Cuba. Surinamers view Cuba as a benefactor. There have been numerous public statements and media coverage on the benefits of Cuban assistance ("Operation Miracle" energy efficient light bulbs, and education) but we have not seen any praise for Cuban governmental policies or comments on succession from Fidel to Raul. ¶5. In the last six months President Venetiaan visited Cuba for the Nonaligned Movement Conference. Also Suriname's Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Mr. Edwin Noordzee, SIPDIS recently visited Cuba. SCHREIBER HUGHES