AMBASSADOR DISCUSSED KOSOVO, ARTICLE 98, CUBA, AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRIDGETOWN 000123

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPT FOR WHA/CAR-FORTIN
DEPT FOR OES-BLANCAS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/26/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV KTIA ETRD PBTS XL
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR DISCUSSED KOSOVO, ARTICLE 98, CUBA, AND
JUNE DELIVERABLES IN ST. LUCIA

REF: 07 BRIDGETOWN 1440

Classified By: PolOff Tyler Allen for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: In a February 21 meeting with the
Ambassador, St. Lucian PM King reemphasized his support for
Kosovo independence and Article 98, although the GOSL has yet
to act on either issue. In discussing the deliverables from
the June 2007 Conference on the Caribbean, King's advisor
explained that the Science and Technology agreement is more
important to St. Lucians than the Trade and Investment
Agreement, hinting that it will be difficult to move the TIFA
without movement on the S&T agreement. END SUMMARY.

Kosovo
--------------


2. (C) The Ambassador met PM King February 21 in conjunction
with a visit to the island to mark St. Lucia's independence
day. She took the opportunity to follow up on her request
for St. Lucia's recognition of Kosovo as an independent
country. PM King stated that the GOSL is behind Kosovo's
independence and will make a statement at the appropriate
moment.

Article 98
--------------


3. (C) PM King ensured the Ambassador that Article 98 would
be on cabinet's agenda that day. However, the Ambassador and
PolOff learned later that "an administrative glitch" kept
Article 98 from being discussed as previously promised.
Regardless, PM advisor St. Aimee has assured PolOff that it
is already on the agenda for the February 28 cabinet meeting.
Likewise, a number of pro-U.S. cabinet members are aware
that Article 98 will be on the agenda soon and have promised
their support for it.

Transition in Cuba
--------------


4. (C) PM King shared his thoughts on the transition in power
in Cuba. He stated that, although unlikely, he hopes the
system will fail, allowing democracy to emerge. Supporting
this, King mentioned that Raul is not as strong a leader as
his brother. He also shared his concern that successful
transition in Cuba could mean increased economic competition
against the Eastern Caribbean, particularly for tourism
dollars. St. Aimee opined that CARICOM will have to engage
Cuba to help make Cuba's tourism sector complementary to the
rest of the Caribbean's rather than competitive.

TIFA vs S&T
--------------


5. (C) The Ambassador urged PM King to show leadership within
CARICOM to help push along the Trade and Investment Framework
Agreement (TIFA) Washington submitted to CARICOM prior to the
June Conference. Although King agreed, St. Aimee stressed
that a TIFA helps St. Lucia little without the promised
Science and Technology Agreement CARICOM is awaiting from
Washington. According to St. Aimee, St. Lucia plans to use
science and technology to process its agricultural products,
filling a niche demand for agro-processed goods (Note: This
is consistent with previous conversations with Trade Minister
Guy Mayers (reftel). End Note.) St. Aimee also emphasized
that, as St. Lucia develops its spa resort sector, it also
would like to develop its alternative medicine industry,
another potential beneficiary of an S&T agreement. King
mentioned that the new St. Lucian Ambassador to the United
States will be focusing on bilateral education opportunities,
particularly in the field of science and technology.

COMMENT
--------------


6. (C) This friendly and positive meeting was constructive
for U.S.-St. Lucian relations. King and St. Aimee have all
but committed St. Lucia to the Article 98 agreement, which
appears to have been slowed by cabinet meetings dominated by
party wrangling rather than due to strident opposition to the

agreement itself. Also, this meeting allowed St. Lucia to

express its request for progress on the S&T agreement while
the Ambassador pushed the TIFA agenda. It appears movement
on the S&T could provide dividends on the TIFA, at least as
far as St. Lucia is concerned.
OURISMAN