HAITI: REVIEW FOR SUSPENSION OF TITLE III OF

UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 000767 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CAR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETRD ETTC PREL PGOV HA CU SUBJECT: HAITI: REVIEW FOR SUSPENSION OF TITLE III OF LIBERTAD ACT REF: A. SECSTATE 52541 ¶B. PAP 01921 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: The Government of Haiti values the assistance it receives from Cuba and does not criticize the country publicly or privately. Cuba's provision of doctors in hard-to-reach areas of the country is seen positively by large sectors of the Haitian public. After the April food riots, the Cuban and Venezuelan Ministers of Agriculture visited Haiti to explore providing technical assistance to Haitian agriculture. Post knows of no Haitian investment in Cuba. End summary. Promotion of Democracy and Human Rights in Cuba -------------- -- ¶2. (SBU) The Government of Haiti does not promote democracy or human rights in Cuba. In its two years in office, the government of President Rene Preval does not publicly comment on Cuba's human rights or democracy record. It has kept silent on the undemocratic succession of power from Fidel to Raul Castro. This is in keeping with Haiti's practice of not commenting adversely in public on governments that provide assistance. There were no demonstrations, public announcements nor legislative acts in support of the May 21 Day of Solidarity with the Cuban people. Developments in Cuba receive very little attention in the Haitian press. Agreements and Exchanges: Health and Energy -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Haiti is a member of the Venezuela-Cuba-Haiti Tripartite Agreement, which facilitates technical assistance to Haiti. This includes Venezuela and Cuba's building of electricity generation plants in the capital, Gonaive, and Cap Haitien, and their repair of existing electricity plants, as well as Cuba's provision of physicians working in Haiti. ¶4. (SBU) Haitian medical students continue to receive scholarships to study in Cuba. The program began under Jean-Bertrand Aristide's second administration (2001-2004). Approximately 1,000 Haitians have participated in this program. Haitian officials, including President Preval and Chamber of Deputies President Eric Jean Jacques, have received medical treatment in Cuba. Post knows of no Haitians engaging in Cuban-paid medical travel to Cuba. Trade/Investment -------------- ¶5. (U) Post is aware of no Haitian public or private investment in Cuba, nor Cuban investment in Haiti. Post is aware of no bilateral trade agreements between Haiti and Cuba. High-Level Visits -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Haitian President Rene Preval attended the Fourth Petrocaribe Summit held in Cienfuegos, Cuba on December 21, ¶2007. A Ministry of Agriculture contact told Econoff that the Cuban and Venezuelan Ministers of Agriculture visited Haiti in April after the food riots to discuss how each country could assist in developing Haiti's agricultural sector. TIGHE