SLOVAKIA: REVIEW FOR SUSPENSION OF TITLE III OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000584

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CCA D. MCFARLAND

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/12/2018
TAGS: PREL CU LO
SUBJECT: SLOVAKIA: REVIEW FOR SUSPENSION OF TITLE III OF
LIBERTAD ACT

REF: STATE 126578

Classified By: Ambassador Vincent Obsitnik, for reasons 1.4 b and d.


1. (C) We offer below the responses to questions asked by
reftel regarding Slovakia's Cuba policy.


2. (C) Has the host country, in Post's opinion, worked to
promote the advancement of democracy and human rights in
Cuba? A: In our view, Slovakia has worked to advance human
rights and democracy in several specific ways.
Non-governmental organizations are providing assistance in
building civil society and education; these organizations are
funded with USG assistance, with the GoS's 2 percent opt-in
tax for NGOs, and with money raised directly from the Slovak
public. In addition, the Slovak EMBASSY in Havana offers
free internet access to Cuban citizens on its premises. A
number of prominent Slovak public figures, including several
members of the European Parliament, sponsor the families of
17 political prisoners in Cuba. Finally, the GoS supports
eight refugee families that have been relocated in Slovakia.


3. (C) Has the host country made public statements or
undertaken other governmental actions, such as resolutions in
the national assemblies condemning human rights abuses in
Cuba; or actions in support of civil society in Cuba through
host country's diplomatic missions or other fora? A: The
Ministry of Foreign Affairs periodically issues statements
supporting human rights in Cuba; it did so most recently in
May 2008.


4. (C) Have there been any high-level diplomatic visits
between Cuba and the host country in the past six months? A:
No.


5. (C) Did the host country offer or deliver humanitarian or
other assistance to the Cuban people in the wake of the major
damage caused by Hurricanes Gustav (August 30) and Ike
(September 8)? A: The Government of Slovakia contributed
roughly $30,000 in humanitarian assistance after the
hurricanes.


6. (C) What is the nature of investments (and names, if
known) that host country businesses have in Cuba? What host
country businesses participated in the Havana Trade Fair
(November 3)? A: We are unaware of any Slovak investments in
Cuba or participation in the Havana Trade Fair.


7. (C) Are there any bilateral trade agreements or other
cooperative agreements between host country and Cuba? A: A
bilateral trade agreement between Slovakia and Cuba was
signed in October 2008 and is awaiting ratification.
Slovakia's imports from Cuba consist almost entirely of
tobacco products; in 2006, the value of Cuban goods imported
was roughly $526,000. Cuba is the 76th most important market


8. (C) Are there any exchange programs between 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? A: We are unaware of any formal exchange
programs between Slovakia and Cuba. The Ministry of
Education's official list of international agreements does
not include Cuba.


OBSITNIK