UAE REVIEW OF THE LIBERTAD ACT

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 000647 SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARP AND WHA/CCA E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/26/2028 TAGS: ETRD ETTC PREL CU AE SUBJECT: UAE REVIEW OF THE LIBERTAD ACT REF: A. SECSTATE 52541 ¶B. 07 ABU DHABI 1954 Classified By: Martin Quinn, Charge d'Affaires a.i., for reasons 1.4 (b & d). ¶1. (SBU) Cuba and the UAE maintain diplomatic relations, but neither country has an embassy present in the other country. The Cuban ambassador is resident in Cairo, Egypt. ¶2. (C) Embassy responses to ref a questions follow. -- Has the host country worked to promote the advancement of democracy and human rights in Cuba? There is no evidence to date of UAE actions to promote human rights or democracy in Cuba. -- Has the host country made other public statements or undertaken other governmental actions in support of democracy or in support of civil society in Cuba? Post is unaware of any UAEG statements with regard to Cuba. -- Have there been any high-level diplomatic visits between Cuba and host country in the past six months? Post is unaware of any high level visits. UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan led a delegation to the NAM summit in Havana in September 2006. -- What is the nature of investments that host country has in Cuba? Post has been unable to find any information on UAE investments in Cuba. Officials at the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority have previously told us that ADIA does not invest in Cuba. -- Are there bilateral trade agreements between the UAE and Cuba? No. -- Are there any exchange programs between the UAE and Cuba? Post is unaware of any exchange programs. QUINN