INPUT ON FRANCE RE COUNTRY BY COUNTRY REVIEW FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 004616 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/30/2027 TAGS: ETRD ETTC PREL CU FR SUBJECT: INPUT ON FRANCE RE COUNTRY BY COUNTRY REVIEW FOR SUSPENSION OF TITLE III OF THE LIBERTAD ACT REF: STATE 158768 Classified By: Classified by Econ Counselor Stuart Dwyer; reasons 1.4 ( b) and (d). ¶1. (U) The following information is keyed to the questions contained in reftel request for information related to Title III of the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act. France -------------- ¶2. (C) What is the nature of investment that host country businesses have in Cuba? French foreign direct investment in Cuba totals 356 million Euros, which ranks it as the fourth forth largest investor (4 percent of total FDI in Cuba) behind Spain, Canada and Italy. Approximately 60 French firms are present in Cuba, concentrated in the tourism, construction, telecommunications, energy, transport and processed food sectors. ¶3. (C) Are there any bilateral trade agreements between the host country and Cuba? Not applicable as the European Commission (EC) has competence for European Union members states on trade agreements. ¶4. (C) Are there any exchange programs between the host country and Cuba, including but not limited to: scholarships for host country nationals to study in Cuba; Cuban-paid medical travel for host country nationals; and Cuban doctors working in host country? There are no government to government agreements on any such exchanges. Non governmental groups in France are free to travel to Cuba and to support exchanges. There are no provisions in France for Cuban sponsored medical travel for French nationals and there are no Cuban sponsored doctors in France. ¶5. (C) Has the host country, in Post,s opinion, worked to promote the advancement of democracy and human rights in Cuba? Yes. The Government of France has an officer at its Embassy in Havana dedicated to engaging with the dissident community and uses this position to support human rights and democracy issues in Cuba. France regularly demarches the Cuban government over the well-being of political prisoners. ¶6. (C) Have there been any high-level diplomatic visits between Cuba and the host country in the past six months? No, according to the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. STAPLETON Please visit Paris' Classified Website at: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm STAPLETON