LIBERTAD ACT: GREECE AND CUBA

C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 000728 SIPDIS WHA/CCA E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/23/2018 TAGS: ETRD ETTC PREL PGOV GR CU SUBJECT: LIBERTAD ACT: GREECE AND CUBA REF: SECSTATE 52541 Classified By: A/POLCOUNS JEFFREY HOVENIER. REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (C) In response to reftel, post offers the following observations on the general state of Greece-Cuba relations as they pertain to the Libertad Act. ¶2. (C) Greece generally follows the common EU position on relations with Cuba. Like other EU countries, Greece maintains diplomatic relations with Cuba, and Greece and Cuba exchange ambassadors and have reciprocal embassies. We are unaware of any recent high-level visits by government officials of either country. The Greek government has made no formal statements on the transition from Fidel to Raul Castro and has generally made no comments on Cuba. The Greek Communist Party (KKE) maintains close ties to the Cuban regime. In May 2008, KKE GenSec Papariga visited Havana to meet Raul Castro and other top members of the Castro regime. ¶3. (Qdrnment of the PASOK paent (1996),Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement (1997),a Cultural Cooperation Agreement (1983),and an Air Transportation Agreement (1998),permitting direct flights between the two countries. We are unaware of any new agreements between Greece and the Castro regime since 2001. ¶4. (C) Greek shipowners control the world's largest merchant marine fleet, and we believe Greek-owned ships carry a significant percentage of Cuba's cargo. Apart from shipping, commercial relations between Greece and Cuba are thin. Greek imports from Cuba in 2007 totaled 6.8 million USD (of which cigars 5 million, rum one million, and charcoal 0.7 million). Greek exports to Cuba in 2007 totaled 226,293 USD (of which petroleum products 96,711 USD, water heaters 61,065 USD, and zinc products 53,974 USD). There are virtually no Cuban tourists visiting Greece and only a limited number of Greek tourists visiting Cuba (approximately 9,000 in 2004, the last year for which statistics were available). SPECKHARD