Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TALLINN415
2008-12-08 12:36:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tallinn
Cable title:  

ESTONIA: LIBERTAD ACT INFORMATION

Tags:  ETRD ETTC PREL EN 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHTL #0415/01 3431236
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 081236Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY TALLINN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0951
INFO RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA
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).

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