COURTESY CALL ON NEW RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR TO HAVANA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HAVANA 000777 SIPDIS DEPT FOR WHA/CCA E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/23/2018 TAGS: CU PINR PREL SUBJECT: COURTESY CALL ON NEW RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR TO HAVANA Classified By: COM Jonathan Farrar for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: COM paid a courtesy call on newly arrived Russian Ambassador to Cuba and discussed economic cooperation between Russia and Cuba, illegal migration of Cubans into Mexico, humanitarian aid for Cuba post-Hurricane Ike as well as discussions on South Ossetia The Russian Ambassador stated clearly that future Russia-Cuba relations did not involve military bases. The Russian Ambassador appeared to stay close to official talking points and did not speak out of school during the meeting. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) On September 22, 2008, Chief of Mission paid a courtesy call on newly arrived Russian Ambassador Mikhail L. Kamynin. Kamynin started the meeting with a bang noting in no uncertain terms that future Russia-Cuba relations would not extend to military bases. During the hour long meeting, Kamynin did not venture far from approved Russian talking points and represented only once that he was conveying his own personal opinions. -------------- ECONOMIC COOPERATION -------------- ¶3. (C) Kamynin noted that for the most part Russia-Cuba economic cooperation was currently focused on the energy sector. Russia is assisting the GOC with plans to minimize Cuba,s dependence on outside sources of energy by focusing on the areas of petroleum and natural gas, the construction of hydro-power aqua ducts, and assisting with plans to upgrade the antiquated power infrastructure on island. When asked about nuclear cooperation, Kamynin,s body language changed significantly and he said only "no", and that routine maintenance on Juragua was discontinued in 2002 making the facility useless. -------------- ILLEGAL CUBAN MIGRATION TO MEXICO AND BEYOND -------------- ¶4. (C) Kamynin asked COM his thoughts on the current problems between Mexico and Cuba, which revolves around the increased illegal migration of Cubans into Mexico. Fresh out of the pages of Russian MFA talking points, Kamynin stated that it is interesting that the United States only looks at problems one way--in this case supporting Mexico, while blaming the entire problem on the GOC leadership--and that Russia is more open because it looks at both sides of issues before commenting. He finished this topic by telling COM that in this case at least, the "focus" of the United States is on the wrong country. ¶5. (C) Staying with the theme of US foreign policy, Kamynin continued by explaining that developed countries should play "by the rules" and follow established, internationally recognized standards, and that there is no place for the use of double standards. After checking off his last bullet in this vein, Kamynin did a reversal and noted that even though the United States and Russia see many issues differently, the two must continue to work together for the common good of the world. -------------- -------------- POST IKE: GOC ACCEPTED EVERY OFFER OF ASSISTANCE, EXCEPT ONE -------------- -------------- ¶6. (C) In response to a direct question, Kamynin stated that he truly did not know why the GOC accepted every offer of humanitarian assistance except that of the United States; but he has a theory. After three explanations that this was his personal opinion and not that of his government, Kamynin proceeded to explain that he believed it would be difficult, if not impossible, for the GOC to accept any type of assistance from the United States given the history between the two nations. Kamynin cited the GOC view that all of Cuba,s problems can be tied to the United States economic embargo. Kamynin stated that the USG offers had been sent with "strings attached", but COM corrected him and explained that the final offer of USD 5 million for humanitarian aid was simply that, humanitarian aid. -------------- HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE -------------- ¶7. (C) On the subject of humanitarian projects, Kamynin noted that Russia was heavily involved in projects aimed at providing assistance to Cuba. Kamynin pointed to Russian HAVANA 00000777 002 OF 002 economic assistance provided to the World Food Program in the amount of 1 million dollars, the donation of construction equipment and electric cable, and a plan to increase the number of slots for youth study programs in Russia. Kamynin joked that it was harder to get young Cubans to study in Russia given the extreme change in climate between the two countries. -------------- SOUTH OSSETIA, RUSSIAN PLANS FOR DEMOCRACY -------------- ¶8. (C) The atmosphere for most of the meeting was cordial and subdued until the topic of South Ossetia. Kamynin was quick to point out that Russia,s intent was to assist South Ossetia with its desire to become an independent and democratic country. COM quickly and succinctly explained to Kamynin that, to date, the words of the Russian government have not matched its actions in South Ossetia or Abkhazia, and that Russia was isolated in its diplomatic recognition of those entities. Kamynin countered that Russian troops remained only to assist with a peaceful transition and that they would depart upon arrival of United Nations observers. -------------- COM COMMENTS -------------- ¶9. (C) Kamynin clearly feels that Russia is riding high these days, prefacing his remarks on several occasions with, "Now that Russia is a strong country again..." At one point, Kamynin suggested that powerful countries such as Russia and the United States should be "tolerant" when it comes to weaker colleagues such as Cuba. We will watch with interest as to whether such a big brother attitude on the part of Russia plays any better than it did in the 1970's and 1980's. FARRAR