Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08KUALALUMPUR1099
2008-12-18 08:51:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Cable title:
CUBA: MALAYSIA REVIEW FOR SUSPENSION OF TITLE III
how-toVZCZCXYZ0008 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHKL #1099/01 3530851 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 180851Z DEC 08 FM AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2140 INFO RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA PRIORITY 0039
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUALA LUMPUR 001099
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/16/2018
TAGS: ETRD ETTC PREL CU MY
SUBJECT: CUBA: MALAYSIA REVIEW FOR SUSPENSION OF TITLE III
OF THE LIBERATAD ACT
REF: SECSTATE 126578
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Robert Rapson for reasons 1.4 (b
) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUALA LUMPUR 001099
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/16/2018
TAGS: ETRD ETTC PREL CU MY
SUBJECT: CUBA: MALAYSIA REVIEW FOR SUSPENSION OF TITLE III
OF THE LIBERATAD ACT
REF: SECSTATE 126578
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Robert Rapson for reasons 1.4 (b
) and (d)
1. (C) Summary: Based on the information available to post,
it appears no Malaysian entities would be subject to Title
III sanctions against persons trafficking in confiscated
properties in Cuba. Per Ref A request, this message provides
post's analysis of Malaysian policies and actions with
respect to Cuba, for use in assessing whether to waive Title
III of the LIBERTAD Act. There has been no substantive change
since Ref B. Post does not believe a decision to waive or
not to waive Title III will have a significant impact on
Malaysian relations with Cuba; they will remain cordial.
However, imposing sanctions against a Malaysian entity would
be perceived as a negative political act, and would likely
result in more vocal opposition to U.S. policy toward Cuba
than Malaysia has demonstrated in the past. End Summary.
Investment and Bilateral Trade
--------------
2. (U) Malaysia has a very limited economic relationship with
Cuba. Total bilateral trade for 2007 was $5.48 million. As
a percentage of Malaysia's 2007 total global trade of more
than $336.3 billion, Cuba does not blip the radar.
3. (U) Trinidad Holdings Sdn. Bhd., a trading group based in
Kuala Lumpur, has been the exclusive Malaysian distributor
for Cuban cigars since 1993, and also sells Cuban wine, beer,
and ice cream mainly to hotels and restaurants.
Scientific and Medical Cooperation
--------------
4. (U) The two countries signed a memorandum of
understanding for scientific cooperation in 2002 that was
designed to advance cooperation on biotechnology, primarily
at the university level. The same year a Malaysian firm
(Bioven) headed by Mukhriz Mahathir, son of former Prime
Minister Mahathir, signed a joint venture with Cuba's Heber
Biotec to manufacture and distribute Cuban biotechnology
products, such as vaccines, in Southeast Asia. Bioven has
completed phase one clinical trials on one cancer treatment
drug and is developing a second. It is unclear whether Heber
Biotec is involved, except that clinical trials were carried
out in Cuba as well as Canada and the UK.
5. (U) Inno Bioligics (InnoBio),a Malaysian biotechnology
company, is working with Cuba's Centre for Molecular
Immunology to conduct a two-year clinical trial of monoclonal
antibodies for the treatment of head and neck cancer.
Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) worked with Cuba's Finlay
Institute and the Centre for Genetic Engineering and
Biotechnology in Cuba to develop vaccines for tuberculosis
and meningitis, including a halal ("permissible" under
Islamic law) meningitis vaccine produced from extracts of
animals slaughtered according to Islamic practices. Until
this halal vaccine became available, Malaysia imported
meningitis vaccine produced from pig extracts. Finlay, Heber,
and Bioven hope to market the vaccine globally, especially to
OIC countries.
6. (U) In September, five Malaysian students departed for
Cuba to study medicine on Cuban government-sponsored
scholarships. Although Cuban medical degrees are accredited
by the World Health Organization, the Government of Malaysia
does not recognize them.
Other Exchanges
--------------
7. (U) Cuba and Malaysia occasionally conduct sports and
cultural exchanges; however, post is not aware of any such
exchanges during the past six months.
Promotion of Democracy
--------------
8. (C) The Government of Malaysia has undertaken no policies
or actions of which we are aware to advance democracy, human
rights and fundamental freedoms in Cuba. Malaysia is a vocal
advocate of non-interference in the internal affairs of other
states. Malaysia established diplomatic relations with Cuba
in February 1975.
High Level Visits
--------------
9. (U) Post is not aware of any high-level visits during the
past six months.
COMMENT:
--------------
10. (C) Malaysia objects in principle to the imposition of
economic sanctions and consequently supports Cuba's
opposition to U.S. economic sanctions on Cuba. We would
expect Malaysia to protest in principle the imposition of
Title III sanctions on any country. The protests would
become more vehement if a Malaysian entity were singled out
for sanctions. Malaysia could be expected to respond to
sanctions by maintaining or even increasing its support for
Cuba in the UN and other organizations.
KEITH
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/16/2018
TAGS: ETRD ETTC PREL CU MY
SUBJECT: CUBA: MALAYSIA REVIEW FOR SUSPENSION OF TITLE III
OF THE LIBERATAD ACT
REF: SECSTATE 126578
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Robert Rapson for reasons 1.4 (b
) and (d)
1. (C) Summary: Based on the information available to post,
it appears no Malaysian entities would be subject to Title
III sanctions against persons trafficking in confiscated
properties in Cuba. Per Ref A request, this message provides
post's analysis of Malaysian policies and actions with
respect to Cuba, for use in assessing whether to waive Title
III of the LIBERTAD Act. There has been no substantive change
since Ref B. Post does not believe a decision to waive or
not to waive Title III will have a significant impact on
Malaysian relations with Cuba; they will remain cordial.
However, imposing sanctions against a Malaysian entity would
be perceived as a negative political act, and would likely
result in more vocal opposition to U.S. policy toward Cuba
than Malaysia has demonstrated in the past. End Summary.
Investment and Bilateral Trade
--------------
2. (U) Malaysia has a very limited economic relationship with
Cuba. Total bilateral trade for 2007 was $5.48 million. As
a percentage of Malaysia's 2007 total global trade of more
than $336.3 billion, Cuba does not blip the radar.
3. (U) Trinidad Holdings Sdn. Bhd., a trading group based in
Kuala Lumpur, has been the exclusive Malaysian distributor
for Cuban cigars since 1993, and also sells Cuban wine, beer,
and ice cream mainly to hotels and restaurants.
Scientific and Medical Cooperation
--------------
4. (U) The two countries signed a memorandum of
understanding for scientific cooperation in 2002 that was
designed to advance cooperation on biotechnology, primarily
at the university level. The same year a Malaysian firm
(Bioven) headed by Mukhriz Mahathir, son of former Prime
Minister Mahathir, signed a joint venture with Cuba's Heber
Biotec to manufacture and distribute Cuban biotechnology
products, such as vaccines, in Southeast Asia. Bioven has
completed phase one clinical trials on one cancer treatment
drug and is developing a second. It is unclear whether Heber
Biotec is involved, except that clinical trials were carried
out in Cuba as well as Canada and the UK.
5. (U) Inno Bioligics (InnoBio),a Malaysian biotechnology
company, is working with Cuba's Centre for Molecular
Immunology to conduct a two-year clinical trial of monoclonal
antibodies for the treatment of head and neck cancer.
Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) worked with Cuba's Finlay
Institute and the Centre for Genetic Engineering and
Biotechnology in Cuba to develop vaccines for tuberculosis
and meningitis, including a halal ("permissible" under
Islamic law) meningitis vaccine produced from extracts of
animals slaughtered according to Islamic practices. Until
this halal vaccine became available, Malaysia imported
meningitis vaccine produced from pig extracts. Finlay, Heber,
and Bioven hope to market the vaccine globally, especially to
OIC countries.
6. (U) In September, five Malaysian students departed for
Cuba to study medicine on Cuban government-sponsored
scholarships. Although Cuban medical degrees are accredited
by the World Health Organization, the Government of Malaysia
does not recognize them.
Other Exchanges
--------------
7. (U) Cuba and Malaysia occasionally conduct sports and
cultural exchanges; however, post is not aware of any such
exchanges during the past six months.
Promotion of Democracy
--------------
8. (C) The Government of Malaysia has undertaken no policies
or actions of which we are aware to advance democracy, human
rights and fundamental freedoms in Cuba. Malaysia is a vocal
advocate of non-interference in the internal affairs of other
states. Malaysia established diplomatic relations with Cuba
in February 1975.
High Level Visits
--------------
9. (U) Post is not aware of any high-level visits during the
past six months.
COMMENT:
--------------
10. (C) Malaysia objects in principle to the imposition of
economic sanctions and consequently supports Cuba's
opposition to U.S. economic sanctions on Cuba. We would
expect Malaysia to protest in principle the imposition of
Title III sanctions on any country. The protests would
become more vehement if a Malaysian entity were singled out
for sanctions. Malaysia could be expected to respond to
sanctions by maintaining or even increasing its support for
Cuba in the UN and other organizations.
KEITH