FRANCE AND CUBA: RESPONSE TO REVIEW FOR SUSPENSION

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 PARIS 002226

SIPDIS

SLUG FOR WHA/CCA DAVID MCFARLAND

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/08/2018
TAGS: ETRD ETTC PREL CU FR
SUBJECT: FRANCE AND CUBA: RESPONSE TO REVIEW FOR SUSPENSION
OF TITLE III OF THE LIBERTAD ACT

REF: A. SECSTATE 126578

B. BRUSSELS 001589

C. PARIS 001886

Classified By: Political Counselor Andrew R. Young for reasons 1.4 (B &
D).


1. (C) The following paragraphs are responses to the request
for information on the relationship between France and the
Cuban government and the implementation of Title III of the
LIBERTAD Act(ref a):



2. (C) Has France, in Post's opinion, worked to promote the
advancement of democracy and human rights in Cuba?

-- Yes, the Government of France has continually encouraged
Cuba to evolve peacefully toward a pluralist democracy while
not always employing the same tactics as the United States.
France critiques the human rights situation in Cuba and has
continuously called on the GOC to release all political
prisoners. France, however, does not support economic
pressure (embargo, provisions with an extra-territorial
scope) and, together with its partners in the European Union
(EU),the GOF has voted since 1996 for a United Nations
General Assembly (UNGA) resolution on the "necessity of
ending the economic, commercial and financial blockades
against Cuba." France favors developing a dialogue with the
Cuban government to promote the achievement of tangible
results in the area of public freedoms, but so far recognizes
that this dialogue has not yet produced results.



3. (C) Has France made public statements or undertaken other
governmental actions, such as resolutions in the national
assemblies condemning human rights abuses in Cuba; or actions
in support of civil society in Cuba through France's
diplomatic missions or other fora.

-- France's ties with Cuba are consistent within the EU
framework (joint position of December 1996, measures of June
5, 2003 revised on January 31 and June 13, 2005) promoting
Cuba's transition to democracy and respect for human rights
as a basis for political, economic and cultural exchanges.
These issues were the focus of an October 11, 2005 meeting in
Paris between former FM Douste-Blazy and Cuban FM Perez
Roque. Because France has continued to cosponsor a
resolution on Cuba at the UN Human Rights Committee since
2003, bilateral relations have deteriorated considerably,
resulting in a protocol freeze imposed on France's EMBASSY in
Havana that lasted through January 2005, as well as a
cancellation of government cooperation programs. The GOF in
February 2008 publicly praised Cuba for releasing four Cuban
political prisoners (Pedro Pablo Alvarez Ramos, Omar Pernet
Hernandez, Jose Gabriel Ramon Castillo and Alejandro Gonzales
Raga) who all later received asylum in Spain. France has
also called for Cuba to sign the UN covenant on civil and
political rights and the UN pact on economic, social and
cultural rights. French Foreign Minister Kouchner this year
has urged the EU through the GAERC to set markers for a
continued dialogue on human rights, to support the transition
to democracy, and to cooperate in areas such as education and
culture. The Foreign Minister has also undertaken behind
the scenes approaches to facilitate the release of political
prisoners in Cuba including interventions on behalf of Dr.
Jose Luis Garcia Paneque, Nelson Alberto Aguiar Ramirez,
Julio Cesar Galvez Rodriguez, Normando Hernandez Gonzalez,
Librado Ricardo Linares Garcia, Omar Pernet Hernandez, Jose
Gabriel Ramon Castillo, and Guido Sigler Amaya.

-- The main thrust of France's diplomatic efforts with Cuba,
however, flows through the EU. For example, on June 23 and
24, 2008, the European Council -- not/not Commission --
agreed to pursue a comprehensive political dialogue with the
Government of Cuba and to lift a number of already suspended
"restrictive measures" imposed in 2003. The EU is also
continuing its outreach to Cuba, which focuses formally on
development, humanitarian, cultural, and economic issues.
France, in its capacity as EU president, hosted an EU troika
meeting on October 16, 2008 with Cuban Foreign Minister Perez
Roque. In early September, Cuba accepted the EU's offer for
dialogue. During the meeting, Foreign Minister Kouchner
asked for the release at least of all remaining political
prisoners in Cuba.



4. (C) Have there been any high-level diplomatic visits
between Cuba and France in the past six months?


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-- In its role as EU president, France hosted an EU troika
meeting on October 16 with Cuban Foreign Minister Perez Roque
to continue the EU-Cuba political dialogue, begun in 2003,
which centers on human rights, democracy, and cultural and
educational exchanges. The EU was represented by French
Foreign Minister Kouchner, Czech Foreign Minister Karel
Schwartzenberg, European Commission Commissioner for
Development Louis Michel, and Pascual de la Parte on behalf
of HR/SG Javier Solana (ref b).



5. (C) Did France 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)?

-- Cuba initially rejected EU offers of humanitarian aide
following Hurricanes Gustav and Ike (ref c). However,
European Commission Commissioner for Development and
Humanitarian Aid, Louis Michel, announced on October 24 that
the European Commission, of which France is partner, would
give 2 million euros to assist in the reconstruction of areas
devastated by hurricanes Gustav and Ike with a focus on
rebuilding homes. The diplomatic turnaround came during the
French-led Paris troika meeting on October 16 to re-establish
joint EU-Cuban relations. (Note: There were no offers of
direct bilateral aide from France to Cuba. End Note).



6. (C) What is the nature of investments that French
businesses have in Cuba?

-- According to 2007 GOF figures, while approximately 60
French companies are active in Cuba, only 13 of them are
established as joint ventures or branches and there are three
hotel management contracts. French investment comes
primarily from major groups and is concentrated in sectors
such as tourism, construction, telecommunications, energy,
agri-food and banking.



7. (C) Are there any bilateral trade agreements or other
cooperative agreements between France and Cuba?

-- Since 1999, Cuba has been nominally part of the Priority
Solidarity Zone (PSZ) defined by France (inclusion in the PSZ
gives access to large-scale development aid actions),but
excluded from the benefits of the Zone for failure to make
progress on the advancement of human rights and the promotion
of democracy. As a result, the GOF claims it has been trying
to maintain actions to assist the people of Cuba through
channels such as NGOs, local authorities and universities.
After the October 16, 2008 EU troika meeting with Cuba,
however, European Commission Commissioner for Development and
Humanitarian Aid, Louis Michel, and Cuban FM Perez Roque
announced on October 24 the re-launching of EU-Cuba
cooperation. The agreement, of which France is a partner
through its membership in the EU, will include a new
framework on environment, science and technology, trade,
cultural exchanges and disaster preparedness. European
Commission funding is slated to be between 20 and 25 million
euros.



8. (C) Are there any exchange programs between France and
Cuba, including but not limited to: scholarships for French
country nationals to study in Cuba; Cuban-paid medical travel
for French nationals; and Cuban doctors working in France?

-- Since July 2003, intergovernmental cooperation has been
frozen by Cuba as a result of conditions put in place by the
2003 EU framework. However, cultural actions, development,
training, higher education and research projects implemented
in the context of private partnerships are still ongoing.
For example, French language teaching, initiated in the
1990s, has continued and French is the second-most taught
foreign language in Cuba after English. Other exchanges
currently permitted or in place are advanced training and
research from West Indies-Guyana University and CIRAD (Center
for International Cooperation in Agronomic Research).
Cultural diversity programs, efforts to combat drug
trafficking, money laundering, civil security (in terms of
responding to natural disasters) and road safety are also
permitted. According to GOF policies, police cooperation can
occur as long as such exchanges do not affect Cuban citizens'
freedom. Although it belongs to the PSZ, Cuba is no longer
eligible for PSF (Priority Solidarity Funds),but it could
set up Social Development Funds (Note: According to the GOF,
a university partnership project presented by France was

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rejected by the GOC in November 2006. End Note).


STAPLETON