VIETNAM-CUBA: TITLE III OF THE LIBERTAD ACT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 001347 SENSITIVE SIPDIS FOR WHA/CCA (MCFARLAND),EAP/MLS (BLACKSHAW) E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/11/2018 TAGS: ETRD ETTC PREL CU VM SUBJECT: VIETNAM-CUBA: TITLE III OF THE LIBERTAD ACT REF: STATE 126578 HANOI 00001347 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Political Counselor Brian Aggeler. Reasons 1.4 (b/d) ¶1. (C) MFA officials and contacts at the MFA-affiliated Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam insist that Vietnam and Cuba continue to enjoy warm "fraternal" relations. Absent fundamental change in either country, there is little prospect that Vietnam will substantially support U.S. priorities for Cuba, as outlined in Title III of the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act. ¶2. (C) Specific answers to reftel questions are as follows: A.) Has the host country, in Post's opinion, worked to promote the advancement of democracy and human rights in Cuba? -- No. Vietnam hews to a strict policy of non-interference based on its "friendship to all" foreign policy and consistently opposes all country-specific human rights interventions. Beyond this, Vietnam maintains a cordial relationship with Cuba, based on ideology and a shared history as members of the Soviet-led COMECON. B.) Has the host country made public statements or undertaken other governmental actions, such as resolutions in the national assembly condemning human rights abuses in Cuba, or taken actions in support of civil society in Cuba through host Qntry's diplomatic missions or other fora? -- No. In addition to the factors mentioned above, Vietnam's National Assembly has little discretion to deviate from policy lines dictated by the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV). C.) Have there been any high-level diplomatic visits between Cuba and the host country in the past six months? -- According to the head of the MFA Latin Americas Office, Do Dinh Truong, the only major diplomatic visit was the October 21-24 trip to Havana by Vietnam's Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan. Media accounts reported visits to Cuba by Vietnam's Deputy Defense Minister Phan Trung Kien (August 4-8) and Minist0er of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang (August 27-28); on September 23 CPV Central Committee Secretary Ho Duc Viet hosted Cuban Minister Ricardo Cabrisas Ruiz. According to the MFA, other National Assembly and Party exchanges were scheduled but postponed or cancelled because of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike and severe flooding in Hanoi. D.) Did the host country offer or deliver humanitarian or other assistance to the Cuban people in the wake of the major damage caused by Hurricanes Gustav (August 30) and Ike (September 8)? -- During her visit, VP Doan announced assistance totaling USD 500,000, including USD 300,000 in emergency relief supplies and USD 200,000 in rice, according to the MFA and media reports. Vietnamese media also reported that on September 29, the Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) People's Committee provided USD 100,000 to Cuba's HCMC Consulate General to support hurricane victims. The Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Association also provided USD 100,000 in assistance. E.) What is the nature of investments (and names, if known) that host country businesses have in Cuba? What host country businesses participated in the Havana Trade Fair (November 3)? -- Vietnamese businesses, including the Vietnam Northern Food Corporation (Vinafood I),the Vietnam Superintendence and Inspection Joint Stock Company (Vinacontrol),the Minh Hoa Footwear Company, and the Tan-Viet Food Company, participated in the Havana Trade Fair, showcasing their staple products, including farm produce such as rice, tea, coffee, pepper, cashew nuts and footwear at the Havana Trade Fair. F.) Are there any bilateral trade agreements or other cooperative agreements between host country and Cuba? -- In 2008, Vietnam replaced Italy as one of Cuba's top six trading partners. In 2007, Cuba agreed to import 200,000 tons of rice a year from Vietnam, Cuba's main rice HANOI 00001347 002.2 OF 002 supplier, for more than $90 million. In 2008, Cuba increased the amount to 400,000 tons a year. G.) Are there any exchange programs between host country and Cuba, including but not limited to: scholarships for host country nationals to study in Cuba; Cuban-paid medical travel for host country nationals; and Cuban doctors working in host country? -- Vietnam and Cuba maintain an academic exchange program that provides university and graduate scholarships. In 2007, there were 20 such scholarships, divided equally. According to the MFA, there are no Cuban doctors working in Vietnam. MICHALAK