SWEDEN AND CUBA: TITLE III COUNTRY REVIEW OF THE

C O N F I D E N T I A L STOCKHOLM 000372

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CCA (DMCFARLAND)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/19/2028
TAGS: ETRD ETTC PREL CU SW
SUBJECT: SWEDEN AND CUBA: TITLE III COUNTRY REVIEW OF THE
LIBERTAD ACT

REF: STATE 52541

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Robert Silverman
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


HUMAN RIGHTS AND PUBLIC STATEMENTS
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1. (C) The protection and promotion of human rights is a
central tenet of Swedish foreign policy. Sweden adheres to
the EU's "constructive engagement" policy toward Cuba and
employs such engagement to raise human rights concerns with
Havana. In a March 2008 press release, Minister for
Development Gunilla Carlson stated that "human rights are
indivisible and universal," adding that Sweden pursues a
"coherent policy for freedom and against oppression." In
2006, The Swedish International Development Cooperation
Agency (SIDA) allocated nearly $1 million (SEK 6.759 million
in 2006 krona) to projects focusing on human rights training,
economic modernization, and exchanges between Cuban and
Swedish institutions to stimulate contact with the outside
world and to encourage reforms designed to precipitate
development. SIDA has not released its 2007 aid figures for
Cuba.


2. (U) Sweden's 2007 MFA Human Rights Report called Cuba an
"authoritarian one-party state whose inhabitants do not enjoy
freedom of expression, freedom of association or an
independent judicial system." Swedish leaders continue to
cite Cuba as a nation of particular concern in public
statements. In a February 2008 speech, Foreign Minister Carl
Bildt called the succession of Raul Castro a "recycled"
Castro regime, adding that this is how "aging dictatorships
function." Bildt also commented: "Cuba is the only country
in the western hemisphere that does not have a democratically
elected government. Instead the country is burdened by an
outdated and fossilized communist regime."

OFFICIAL VISITS
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3.(U) Although Sweden and Cuba maintain full diplomatic
relations, there have been no high-level diplomatic visits in
the past six months.

SWEDISH BUSINESS IN CUBA
--------------

4.(U) Sweden does not make information on Swedish direct
foreign investment in Cuba available to the public. Swedish
companies operating in Cuba include Ericsson, Atlas Copco,
Volvo Construction Equipment, Elof Hansson, and Bycosin.
Swedish exports to Cuba totaled nearly $43 million in 2007.

BILATERAL TRADE AGREEMENTS
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5.(U) Sweden and Cuba have a bilateral agreement regarding
consolidated debt from 1987, but no specific agreements on
trade.

EXCHANGE PROGRAMS
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6. (U) Although SIDA finances Linnaeus-Palme Field Studies
scholarships to facilitate student exchanges, no exchanges
appear to be occurring at present. Swedish doctors do not
participate in Cuban-paid medical travel.

WOOD