Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BUDAPEST1180
2008-12-10 12:14:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Budapest
Cable title:  

HUNGARY: COUNTRY REVIEW ON RELATIONS WITH CUBA

Tags:  PREL ETRD ETTC HU 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0001
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHUP #1180 3451214
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 101214Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3679
INFO RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA 0022
C O N F I D E N T I A L BUDAPEST 001180 

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CCA DAVID MCFARLAND,AND EUR/CE JAMIE
LAMORE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/08/2018
TAGS: PREL ETRD ETTC HU
SUBJECT: HUNGARY: COUNTRY REVIEW ON RELATIONS WITH CUBA

REF: A. SECSTATE 126578

B. BUDAPEST 194

C. BUDAPEST 723

Classified By: DCM Jeffrey Levine, reasons 1.4 (b and d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUDAPEST 001180

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CCA DAVID MCFARLAND,AND EUR/CE JAMIE
LAMORE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/08/2018
TAGS: PREL ETRD ETTC HU
SUBJECT: HUNGARY: COUNTRY REVIEW ON RELATIONS WITH CUBA

REF: A. SECSTATE 126578

B. BUDAPEST 194

C. BUDAPEST 723

Classified By: DCM Jeffrey Levine, reasons 1.4 (b and d)


1. (C) The DCM met with MFA's America's Department Director
Szilveszter Bus on December 9 to discuss ref A. Post views
Hungary as a strong supporter of democracy development in
Cuba. Although the GoH has joined the EU consensus on
lifting the embargo, they view the U.S. approach as
appropriate and consistent with their "moral responsibility"
to offer their expertise and experience to nations seeking to
make the transition to a democratic government (refs B and
C). Hungary's diplomatic mission in Havana has been
extremely active in reaching out to Cuban dissidents, and
Hungarian officials from all Parliamentary parties have made
public statements of support for a democratic transition on
the island. At the USG's request, the GoH also accepted a
record number of protected migrants from Cuba for
resettlement in Hungary.


2. (C) Bus provided the following information in response to
ref A questions:

High-level Visits: None. The highest-level Cuban visitor to
Hungary in recent memory was a Deputy Office Director who
stopped in Budapest unofficially. Indeed, Cuba withdrew its
Ambassador from Hungary last year in order to make clear its
displeasure with the GoH's democratization efforts on the
island. The only senior Hungarian official to visit Cuba this
year was Matyas Eorsi, Chairman of the Parliament's European
Affairs Committee, who traveled to Cuba in a private capacity
at the invitation of Freedom House in order to meet with a
number of Cuban dissidents.

Hurricane Assistance: Hungary neither offered nor delivered
assistance to Cuba in the aftermath of Hurricanes Gustav and
Ike.

Economic activity: Minimal, with Hungarian exports equaling
USD 1.7 million and Cuban imports totaling USD 157,000.
There is a joint economic committee but it has not met in
recent memory. Hungary's International Trade Development
Agency did attend the recent Havana Trade Fair but no
Hungarian companies did.

Exchange Programs: There is a long-standing proposal to use
Hungary's International Center for Democratic Transition to
give "democratization training" to mid-level Cuban officials
but it has seemingly gained no traction on either end.
Hungary does not engage in the medical exchanges detailed in
reftel.
Foley