ROMANIA: DEMARCHE RESPONSE ON CUBA LIBERTAD ACT

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUCHAREST 000964 SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CCA DMCFARLAND AND EUR/CE ASCHIEBE E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/09/2018 TAGS: ETRD ETTC PREL CU RO SUBJECT: ROMANIA: DEMARCHE RESPONSE ON CUBA LIBERTAD ACT REF: STATE 126578 Classified By: CDA Jeri Guthrie-Corn for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) In response to questions in reftel, the Government of Romania (GOR) has worked to promote democracy and human rights in Cuba and has only a limited trading relationship with the island. Relations between the two countries are complicated by an outstanding trade dispute, in which the GOR believes it is owed substantial arrears by the Cuban Government. Even though a delegation from Romania did attend the recent Havana trade fair this year, this was the first trip since 2000, and it does not appear that the trip resulted in any substantial business, nor did it benefit from significant official support. The delegation was headed by the "Investors' Club of Romania." Romania has no bilateral trade agreement with Cuba outside of the EU framework. Very limited trade does occur between the two countries, but typically goods pass through a Spanish company first before being re-exported to Cuba. The GOR did not provide any direct aid to Cuba following Hurricanes Gustav or Ike. ¶2. (C) While both countries maintain diplomatic representatives in their respective capitals, Romania's mission to Havana is headed by a charge d'affaires, and there are no immediate plans to accredit an ambassador there. There have been no recent, high-level diplomatic exchanges between the two countries, nor do the countries host regular non-government exchanges. The GOR supported Cuba Solidarity Day in Bucharest through the Romanian Cultural Institute and the NGO Prodemocratia, and has worked through the EU to promote democracy in Cuba. GUTHRIE-CORN