GUATEMALA: REVIEW OF CUBA FOR SUSPENSION OF TITLE

C O N F I D E N T I A L GUATEMALA 000654

SIPDIS


DEPT FOR WHA/CCA
DEPT PLEASE PASS TO WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/21/2018
TAGS: ETRD ETTC PREL CU GT
SUBJECT: GUATEMALA: REVIEW OF CUBA FOR SUSPENSION OF TITLE
III OF LIBERTAD ACT

REF: STATE 52541

Classified By: Ambassador James Derham for reasons 1.4 (b,d)


1. (C) Post's response to reftel regarding the relationship
between the Cuban and Guatemalan governments is provided
below.

-- The GOG has not actively promoted the advancement of
democracy and human rights in Cuba, and has not officially
supported activities connected with the May 21 Day of
Solidarity with the Cuban People. Local civil society has
advocated for the advancement of human rights in Cuba.

-- Post is not aware of any public statements or governmental
actions undertaken by the GOG condemning human rights abuses
in Cuba, or supporting democracy or civil society in Cuba.

-- Guatemalan Vice President Espada visited Cuba February
1-3, 2008, shortly after he assumed office. Espada met with
Cuban Vice President Carlos Lange, Minister of Health Jose
Ramon Balanguer, and other senior officials. The purpose of
the visit was for Espada, a former heart surgeon with a
strong interest in public health policy, to explore the
possibility of Cuban doctors providing medical training to a
hospital in rural Guatemala.

-- Post is not aware of any Guatemalan business investments
in Cuba.

-- There is one bilateral trade agreement between Guatemala
and Cuba called a "partial scope agreement." The partial
scope agreement provides preferential tariffs for some
mutually agreed-upon goods and eliminates non-tariff barriers
to facilitate and expand trade flows.

-- Scholarships are available for Guatemalans to study in
Cuba, particularly to study medicine. There have been
questions raised as to whether Cuban medical training meets
Guatemalan requirements to practice medicine. As of January
2008, there were 282 Cuban medical doctors in Guatemala
working in 13 of the country's 43 hospitals, some of whom are
in Guatemala as part of a professional exchange program. In
April, the GOG signed an agreement with the Cuban government
to implement Cuban literacy methodology "Yo Si Puedo" (Yes I
Can) in Guatemala's public educational system. The literacy
method will be implemented nationwide with the support of
Cuban teachers, in the 45 poorest municipalities. The
program is scheduled to start in July.
Derham