Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TALLINN182
2008-05-23 08:50:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tallinn
Cable title:  

ESTONIA: SOLIDARITY DAY ACTIVITIES AND LIBERTAD

Tags:  ETRD ETTC PREL EN 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0015
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHTL #0182 1440850
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 230850Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY TALLINN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0645
INFO RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA
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).

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