PORTUGAL MAINTAINS STATUS QUO IN RELATIONS WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L LISBON 002753 SIPDIS WHA/CCA (MCFARLAND) E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/09/2018 TAGS: ETRD ETTC PREL PO SUBJECT: PORTUGAL MAINTAINS STATUS QUO IN RELATIONS WITH CUBA REF: SECSTATE 126578 Classified By: Dana M. Brown, Pol-Econ Officer, Embassy Lisbon Reason 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) In response to reftel request for information for the Suspension of the Libertad Act, Title III, Portugal's relationship with Cuba remained unchanged over 2008. ¶2. (C) POLITICAL INTERACTION: Portugal follows the European Union policy of supporting human rights and democratic transition and backs the bloc's foreign engagement strategy. Portuguese MFA interlocutors stress that they do not want to make public statements specifically against Cuba's human rights record because the GOP prefers to speak out against all human rights violators as a group. Consequently, the GOP has neither made public statements nor proposed country-specific resolutions on Cuba in international fora. ¶3. (C) TRADE/ ASSISTANCE: Over the last six months, the GOP has not initiated or agreed to new bilateral trade agreements with Cuba. Portuguese businesses have negligible investments in Cuba, and as a result, the GOP does not take an active role in shaping EU policy on Cuba. According to the Portuguese development agency (IPAD),the GOP did not send bilateral humanitarian assistance after Hurricanes Gustav or Ike. ¶4. (C) VISITS: Portugal has not had high-level visits to Cuba or from Cuban officials during the second half of 2008. STEPHENSON