ESTONIA: SOLIDARITY DAY ACTIVITIES AND LIBERTAD

C O N F I D E N T I A L TALLINN 000182 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/23/2018 TAGS: ETRD ETTC PREL EN SUBJECT: ESTONIA: SOLIDARITY DAY ACTIVITIES AND LIBERTAD ACT INFORMATION REF A: STATE 51536 REF B: STATE 52541 Classified By: CDA Karen Decker for reasons 1.4 (b) & (d). ¶1. (SBU) In connection with Reftel A, the following events marking Cuban Solidarity Day took place in Estonia this week. -- On May 20, a leading Russian language newspaper, with an estimated 70,000 readers, published an Op-Ed signed by the Ambassador calling on Estonia to mark Cuban Solidarity Day; -- The Deputy Speaker of the Estonian Parliament hosted a reception commemorating Cuban Solidarity Day on May 21. Prior to the reception, parliamentarians opened a photo exhibit by Estonian photographer Madli Laane entitled 'Meeting with Cuba.' The exhibit depicted Cuba's double society where wealthy tourists find full shop counters while local people fight for food rations. Following this, was a showing of the film Damas de Blanco by Czech filmmaker Ivana Milosevic. The film chronicles the efforts of Cuban mothers, wives and sisters to gain the release of family members imprisoned by the Cuban government. -- The Embassy distributed information on Cuban Solidarity Day activities to local NGOs. ¶2. (C) Post provides the following information in response to Reftel B questions related to Title III of the Libertad Act: ¶3. (C) Has the host country, in Post's opinion, worked to promote the advancement of democracy and human rights in Cuba? -- Estonia has no diplomatic presence in Cuba and vice versa. While the Government of Estonia (GOE) supports the EU positions on human rights abuses in Cuba, it is not active in monitoring events in Cuba. However, GOE officials and parliamentarians have participated in some Cuba related activities. -- In March 2008, prominent Cuban dissident Osvaldo Alfonos Valdes traveled to Tallinn to discuss the situation in Cuba and forge ties with Estonian politicians, journalists and public figures. Valdes was imprisoned as part of the Black Spring of 2003 in which Fidel Castor's regime arrested and jailed more than 75 human rights, democracy and political activists. Over the course of his two day visit, Valdes met with several members of Parliament, Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials and former Prime Minister Mart Laar who serves as a member of the International Committee for Democracy in Cuba. -- In May 2009, several members of the Estonian Parliament formed a formal group to support Cuban democracy. ¶4. (C) Have there been any high-level diplomatic visits between Cuba and host country in the past six months? -- No. ¶5. (C) What is the nature of investments (and names, if known) that host country businesses have in Cuba? -- There is not foreign direct investment in either direction between Estonia and Cuba. ¶6. (C) Are there any bilateral trade agreements between host country and Cuba? -- There are no bi-lateral trade agreements between the countries. ¶7. (C) Are there any exchange programs between host country and Cuba? -- There are no official exchange programs between Estonia and Cuba and Estonia. DECKER