ESTONIA: LIBERTAD ACT INFORMATION

C O N F I D E N T I A L TALLINN 000415 SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/NB MIGUEL RODRIGUES AND WHA/CCA DAVID MACFARLAND E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/09/2018 TAGS: ETRD ETTC PREL EN SUBJECT: ESTONIA: LIBERTAD ACT INFORMATION REF: STATE 126578 Classified By: CDA Karen Decker for reasons 1.4 (b) & (d). ¶1. (C) Post provides the following information in response to Reftel questions related to Title III of the Libertad Act: ¶2. (C) Has the host country, in Post's opinion, worked to promote the advancement of democracy and human rights in Cuba? ¶3. (C) Has the host country made public statements or undertaken other governmental actions, such as resolutions in the national assemblies condemning human rights abuses in Cuba; or actions in support of civil society in Cuba through host country's diplomatic missions or other fora? -- 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 2008, several members of the Estonian Parliament formed a formal group to support Cuban democracy. -- In May 2008, Members of Estonian Parliament hosted a Global Cuba Solidarity Day event at the Estonian Museum of Occupation. The event marked the opening of a photo exhibition entitled ?Meeting with Cuba? showcasing the dichotomy between what Cuba has to offer tourists and the reality of daily life for locals. The opening was accompanied by a showing of the film ?Damas de Blanco,? or ?Ladies in White,? a documentary depicting a group of Cuban women who fight for the release of 75 political prisoners arrested in the Black Spring of 2003. -- In September 2008, Members of the Estonian Government and Parliament meet with Cuban-American democracy activist and U.S. citizen Erich de la Fuente to discuss the current status of democracy and human rights in Cuba. ¶4. (C) Have there been any high-level diplomatic visits between Cuba and host country in the past six months? -- No. ¶5. (C) Did the host country offer or deliver humanitarian or other assistance to the Cuban people in the wake of the major damage caused by Hurricanes Gustav (August 30) and Ike(September 8)? -- No. ¶6. (C) What is the nature of investments (and names, if known) that host country businesses have in Cuba? What host country businesses participated in the Havana Trade Fair (November 3)? -- There is no foreign direct investment in either direction between Estonia and Cuba. No Estonian businesses participated in the Havana Trade Fair. ¶7. (C) Are there any bilateral trade agreements between host country and Cuba? -- There are no bilateral trade agreements between the countries. ¶8. (C) Are there any exchange programs between host country and Cuba, including but not limited to: scholarships for host country nationals to study in Cuba; Cuban-paid medical travel for host country nationals; and Cuban doctors working in host country? -- There are no official exchange programs between Estonia and Cuba and Estonia. DECKER