BELGIUM:COUNTRY BY COUNTRY REVIEW FOR SUSPENSION

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 001864 SIPDIS STATE PASS WHA/CCA DAVID MCFARLAND E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/05/2009 TAGS: ETRD ETTC PREL CU BE SUBJECT: BELGIUM:COUNTRY BY COUNTRY REVIEW FOR SUSPENSION OF TITLE III OF THE LIBERTAD ACT REF: SECSTATE 126578 Classified By: Deputy Political Counselor Robert Kiene ¶1. (C) Belgium maintains diplomatic relations with Cuba through its Embassy in Havana and the Cuban Embassy in Brussels. FM De Gucht has not considered Cuba a priority during his ministry. No high level visits have taken place since Louis Michel was Foreign Minister from 1999-2003. Belgium has respected and followed the EU position of maintaining measures against Cuba that ban such high level visits since they were adopted in 2003. Human rights and democracy are important to Belgium worldwide, including in its relationship with Cuba. ¶2. (C) Cuba is not one of Belgium's twenty-four priority countries for foreign assistance. However, Belgian does contribute to basic development projects in Cuba indirectly through organizations such as the UNDP and UN Habitat. There was a slight increase in the amount of aid provided to these organizations after the two recent hurricanes in Cuba, but no aid was given directly. ¶3. (C) Cuba is not a major destination for Belgian foreign investment. The only investor of note is the Belgian - Brazilian brewing conglomerate InBev which has taken an interest in a Cuban brewing concern. Exports to Cuba totaled approximately EUR 40 million and imports from Cuba approach EUR 4 million in 2007. Around three thousand Belgian tourists visit Cuba annually. FOX .