Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08SEOUL1371
2008-07-09 08:11:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Seoul
Cable title:
ROK TO SEEK CONSULAR RELATONS WITH CUBA AND SYRIA
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHUL #1371 1910811 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 090811Z JUL 08 FM AMEMBASSY SEOUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0803 INFO RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 4635 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 4507 RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS PRIORITY 0069 RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHMFISS/COMUSKOREA J5 SEOUL KOR PRIORITY RHMFISS/COMUSKOREA SCJS SEOUL KOR PRIORITY RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA PRIORITY 0015
C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 001371
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/09/2018
TAGS: PREL PHUM CU SY KS
SUBJECT: ROK TO SEEK CONSULAR RELATONS WITH CUBA AND SYRIA
REF: SEOUL 991 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: DCM Bill Stanton. Reasons 1.4 (b/d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 001371
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/09/2018
TAGS: PREL PHUM CU SY KS
SUBJECT: ROK TO SEEK CONSULAR RELATONS WITH CUBA AND SYRIA
REF: SEOUL 991 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: DCM Bill Stanton. Reasons 1.4 (b/d)
1. (C) Summary: In a July 8 meeting with the DCM, ROK Deputy
Foreign Minister Lee Yong-joon said that ROKG would soon
begin negotiations on establishing consular relations with
Cuba and Syria. DFM Lee was adamant, however, that this was
not a first step toward full diplomatic relations with Cuba.
End Summary.
CUBA
--------------
2. (C) DFM Lee Yong-joon told the DCM that for some time the
ROKG had felt an acute need for an office in Cuba. Vacations
in Cuba were becoming quite popular among South Koreans.
Last year, some 4000 South Korean tourists had traveled to
Cuba; some of them had lost their passports and were stranded
for a considerable time. Also, Korean trade with Cuba was
growing, now totaling some USD 200 million a year.
Therefore, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT)
would soon begin negotiations on establishing consular
relations with Cuba, DFM Lee said. This should not be seen
as a first step toward establishing full diplomatic relations
with Cuba, Lee emphasized. Rather, the consular office in
Havana, staffed by 3 or 4 Korean officers, would simply
function to meet the growing consular needs of South Korean
tourists and businessmen. DCM told Lee that he would convey
this information to Washington.
SYRIA
--------------
3. (C) DFM Lee said that Damascus had refused in the past to
establish relations with Seoul because of its close relations
with North Korea. South Korea had little or no interest in
Syria. Still, the ROKG wanted a consular office in Syria to
protect Koreans traveling or working in Syria. Lee said that
a final decision had not been made, but that it was likely
that MOFAT would soon approach Syria to begin negotiations.
COMMENT
--------------
4. (C) We have known for a while that MOFAT wanted to
establish consular relations with Cuba (see refs),one of
three countries with which it has no diplomatic or consular
relations; the others are Syria and Macedonia (over its
name). We would appreciate Washington's response, if any, to
the ROKG's plan on Cuba. In regard to Syria, we suspect
South Korea's newly felt need for a consular office is likely
due to the presence of South Korean peacekeeping troops in
Lebanon. Given Syria's very strong bilateral ties to North
Korea, ROK-Syria negotiations could take a long time.
VERSHBOW
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/09/2018
TAGS: PREL PHUM CU SY KS
SUBJECT: ROK TO SEEK CONSULAR RELATONS WITH CUBA AND SYRIA
REF: SEOUL 991 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: DCM Bill Stanton. Reasons 1.4 (b/d)
1. (C) Summary: In a July 8 meeting with the DCM, ROK Deputy
Foreign Minister Lee Yong-joon said that ROKG would soon
begin negotiations on establishing consular relations with
Cuba and Syria. DFM Lee was adamant, however, that this was
not a first step toward full diplomatic relations with Cuba.
End Summary.
CUBA
--------------
2. (C) DFM Lee Yong-joon told the DCM that for some time the
ROKG had felt an acute need for an office in Cuba. Vacations
in Cuba were becoming quite popular among South Koreans.
Last year, some 4000 South Korean tourists had traveled to
Cuba; some of them had lost their passports and were stranded
for a considerable time. Also, Korean trade with Cuba was
growing, now totaling some USD 200 million a year.
Therefore, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT)
would soon begin negotiations on establishing consular
relations with Cuba, DFM Lee said. This should not be seen
as a first step toward establishing full diplomatic relations
with Cuba, Lee emphasized. Rather, the consular office in
Havana, staffed by 3 or 4 Korean officers, would simply
function to meet the growing consular needs of South Korean
tourists and businessmen. DCM told Lee that he would convey
this information to Washington.
SYRIA
--------------
3. (C) DFM Lee said that Damascus had refused in the past to
establish relations with Seoul because of its close relations
with North Korea. South Korea had little or no interest in
Syria. Still, the ROKG wanted a consular office in Syria to
protect Koreans traveling or working in Syria. Lee said that
a final decision had not been made, but that it was likely
that MOFAT would soon approach Syria to begin negotiations.
COMMENT
--------------
4. (C) We have known for a while that MOFAT wanted to
establish consular relations with Cuba (see refs),one of
three countries with which it has no diplomatic or consular
relations; the others are Syria and Macedonia (over its
name). We would appreciate Washington's response, if any, to
the ROKG's plan on Cuba. In regard to Syria, we suspect
South Korea's newly felt need for a consular office is likely
due to the presence of South Korean peacekeeping troops in
Lebanon. Given Syria's very strong bilateral ties to North
Korea, ROK-Syria negotiations could take a long time.
VERSHBOW