Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07WARSAW1204
2007-05-24 10:31:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Warsaw
Cable title:  

POLAND: LIBERTAD ACT RESPONSE

Tags:  ETRD ETTC PREL PO CU 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0011
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHWR #1204 1441031
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 241031Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY WARSAW
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4345
C O N F I D E N T I A L WARSAW 001204 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/NCE AND WHA/CCA
EUR/NCE FOR DKOSTELANCIK AND BPUTNEY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/16/2017
TAGS: ETRD ETTC PREL PO CU
SUBJECT: POLAND: LIBERTAD ACT RESPONSE

REF: STATE 65523

Classified By: Acting Econ Counselor Laura Griesmer, Reasons 1.4 b, d

C O N F I D E N T I A L WARSAW 001204

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/NCE AND WHA/CCA
EUR/NCE FOR DKOSTELANCIK AND BPUTNEY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/16/2017
TAGS: ETRD ETTC PREL PO CU
SUBJECT: POLAND: LIBERTAD ACT RESPONSE

REF: STATE 65523

Classified By: Acting Econ Counselor Laura Griesmer, Reasons 1.4 b, d


1. (C) Post is not aware of any Polish investment in Cuba
and bilateral trade is very small. In the first eleven
months of 2006 Poland exported $18.0 million in goods to Cuba
and imported $0.2 million from Cuba. Exports for the first
11 months of 2005 were $10.4 million while imports were $3.2
million. The main Polish exports to Cuba are powdered milk
and chemicals. Post is not aware of any bilateral trade
agreements or exchange programs between Poland and Cuba.
Generally, there are very few official contacts between the
Polish Ministry of Economy and Cuban officials.


2. (C) Politically, Poland has worked actively since its own
transition from communism to democracy in 1989 to promote
democracy in Cuba, and this commitment is shared across the
political spectrum. The current government has continued the
previous government's policy of working to promote a strong
EU policy of support for dissidents and sanctions against the
Castro regime. No senior Polish officials have visited Cuba
in recent years. Poland's embassy in Havana has been headed
for some time by a Charge d'Affaires who has been active in
meeting with dissidenQ, notwithstanding the personal
difficulty this has caused him. The Ministry of Foreign
Affairs worked with the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw and U.S.
Interests Section in Havana to organize a video conference
between the former President of Poland and the leader of
Poland's Solidarity Movement, Lech Walesa, and Cuban
dissidents in 2006. In a rare display of unity, Poland's
current and former democratically-elected presidents
supported a Cuba democracy conference organized by the Lech
Walesa Foundation in Warsaw in late 2006. A senior MFA
official attended a Cuba democracy conference in Florida in
late 2006. The Government has quietly encouraged the Vatican
to continue its support for a Catholic center and publication
that provides some space for dissidents to express
themselves. Poland is planning to send an ambassador to
Havana in 2007, but one with strong credentials of support
for democracy in Cuba. Poland does not accept the prospect
of a transfer of power to Raul Castro in the event of Fidel
Castro's death as automatic.


3. (C) The Polish government generally limits diplomatic
visits between the countries. The Cuban First Deputy
Minister of Tourism visited Warsaw in March 2007 to try to
promote Polish tourism to Cuba and met with working level
officials at the Ministry of Economy, the Polish Tourism
Organization and the Polish Chamber of Commerce. No
agreements were signed during his visit. During the visit, a
possible investment in a hotel by ORBIS, a commercially held
hotel and tourism company, was discussed. There has been no
progress on the project and the Ministry of Economy believes
the idea has been dropped.

ASHE