Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ROME1474
2008-12-05 07:56:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rome
Cable title:
ITALY COUNTRY REVIEW FOR SUSPENSION OF TITLE III
how-toVZCZCXRO9127 OO RUEHAG RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHRO #1474 3400756 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 050756Z DEC 08 FM AMEMBASSY ROME TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1265 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA PRIORITY 0044
C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 001474
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/CCA DAVID MCFARLAND
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/04/2018
TAGS: ETRD ETTC PREL CU IT
SUBJECT: ITALY COUNTRY REVIEW FOR SUSPENSION OF TITLE III
OF THE LIBERTAD ACT
REF: STATE 126578
Classified By: Poloff Gabriel Escobar for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 001474
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/CCA DAVID MCFARLAND
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/04/2018
TAGS: ETRD ETTC PREL CU IT
SUBJECT: ITALY COUNTRY REVIEW FOR SUSPENSION OF TITLE III
OF THE LIBERTAD ACT
REF: STATE 126578
Classified By: POLOFF Gabriel Escobar for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (U) This message is post's response to reftel request for
updated information necessary for the President's
consideration of continued suspension of Title III of the
LIBERTAD Act.
2. (C) There has been no significant change in Italian
relations with Cuba over the past six months. There were no
high-level diplomatic visits between Cuba and Italy during
this period. Italy continues to support the EU's common
position on Cuba, including the dual-track approach of
engagement with the Cuban government and outreach to the
democratic opposition. Italy does not participate in
exchange programs with Cuba.
3. (C) Italian tourism to Cuba declined by 7% in 2007. Italy
is Cuba's eighth-largest commercial partner, with $414
million in trade in 2007. Italian trade with Cuba was up 20%
in the first half of 2008. A total of 49 Italian businesses
and 5 business consortiums participated in the November 2008
Havana Trade Fair, making Italy's presence one of the
largest. The most significant Italian investment in Cuba
remains Telecom Italia's ownership stake of Etecsa, the Cuban
telecom monopoly. The Italian government distributed 33,333
euros in 2008 to the Red Cross for post-hurricane
humanitarian assistance in Cuba.
SPOGLI
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/CCA DAVID MCFARLAND
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/04/2018
TAGS: ETRD ETTC PREL CU IT
SUBJECT: ITALY COUNTRY REVIEW FOR SUSPENSION OF TITLE III
OF THE LIBERTAD ACT
REF: STATE 126578
Classified By: POLOFF Gabriel Escobar for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (U) This message is post's response to reftel request for
updated information necessary for the President's
consideration of continued suspension of Title III of the
LIBERTAD Act.
2. (C) There has been no significant change in Italian
relations with Cuba over the past six months. There were no
high-level diplomatic visits between Cuba and Italy during
this period. Italy continues to support the EU's common
position on Cuba, including the dual-track approach of
engagement with the Cuban government and outreach to the
democratic opposition. Italy does not participate in
exchange programs with Cuba.
3. (C) Italian tourism to Cuba declined by 7% in 2007. Italy
is Cuba's eighth-largest commercial partner, with $414
million in trade in 2007. Italian trade with Cuba was up 20%
in the first half of 2008. A total of 49 Italian businesses
and 5 business consortiums participated in the November 2008
Havana Trade Fair, making Italy's presence one of the
largest. The most significant Italian investment in Cuba
remains Telecom Italia's ownership stake of Etecsa, the Cuban
telecom monopoly. The Italian government distributed 33,333
euros in 2008 to the Red Cross for post-hurricane
humanitarian assistance in Cuba.
SPOGLI