CUBA: JAPAN'S RESPONSE TO LIBERTAD ACT QUESTIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 005476 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR WHA/CCA E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/02/2017 TAGS: PREL ETRD ETTC CU JA SUBJECT: CUBA: JAPAN'S RESPONSE TO LIBERTAD ACT QUESTIONS REF: STATE 158768 Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer for reasons 1.4 (b) and ( d). (C) In response to reftel request, Embassy Economic Officer met November 30 with the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's Latin America and Caribbean Office Deputy Director, and Political Officer met December 3 with Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mexico and Central America Division CUBA Desk Officer to discuss Japan-Cuba relations. Below are answers to specific questions raised in reftel. ¶Q. What is the nature of investments (and names, if known) that host country businesses have in Cuba? ¶A. There is no significant Japanese investment in Cuba. A few Japanese-owned international trading companies such as Suitomo Corp. and Mitsubishi Corp. have branch offices in Cuba. ¶Q. Are there any bilateral trade agreements between host country and Cuba? ¶A. Japan-Cuba trade is governed by the Japan-Cuba Trade Agreement of 1960. Japan has no plans for new economic agreements with Cuba. There has been no significant new Japanese investment in CUBA during the past six months. Two-way trade in the first nine months of 2007 has been stable, at a continued low level of between 1 billion and 3.5 billion yen (USD 9 million - 30 million) a month. Trade is more than 80% in Japan's favor. ¶Q. Are there any exchange programs between host country and Cuba? ¶A. Japan gives academic scholarships to 2-3 college students every year, part of a world-wide program. In addition, relationships between individual universities in Havana and Tokyo involve student exchanges. ¶Q. Has the host country, in Post's opinion, worked to promote the advancement of democracy and human rights in Cuba? ¶A. Japan has made no significant effort to promote human rights or democracy in CUBA during the last six months, but Japan raises its concerns about human rights every year during the annual bilateral political summit, held most recently in Havana last November. ¶Q. Have there been any high-level diplomatic visits between Cuba and host country in the past six months? ¶A. There were four significant high-level visits: --August 2007: Then-Foreign Minister Aso met with Cuban Foreign Minister Perez in Brasilia on the occasion of the 3rd FEALAC Foreign Ministers' meeting. Perez asked for individual negotiations on Cuba's medium and long term debt. Aso responded it was important to rebuild a relationship of trust and said he expected an early resumption of Cuba's Paris Club negotiations. --August 2007: Lower House goodwill tour to CUBA and Costa Rica. The Japanese delegation was chaired by Lower House Vice Speaker Takamichi Yokomichi. --September 2007: Lower House Committee on Agriculture, Forests and Fisheries delegation chaired by Chairman Koya Nishikawa. --November 2007: Annual Japan-Cuba Policy Dialogue. Latin American and Caribbean Affairs Director General Akira Miwa met with Cuban Vice Minister for Asian, Oceanian, and African Affairs Marcos Rodriguez. Discussions focused on Cuba's debt. SCHIEFFER