SECOND CUBAN PROTEST REGARDING MISSION SECURITY

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000019 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR IO/UNP, DS/DSS/DO AND WHA/CCA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OFDP CU UN SUBJECT: SECOND CUBAN PROTEST REGARDING MISSION SECURITY REF: USUN 0013 ¶1. Paragraph 2 of reftel describes a December 26, 2007 incident in which a Cuban emigre threw a rock through a glass door at the Cuban Mission and was subsequently arrested by the New York Police Department. USUN has received a diplomatic note dated January 7, 2008 (text follows in paragraph 2 below) protesting the incident. The note stresses that the host country will be held responsible for the December 10 and December 26 incidents and any others that may follow. The Cuban Mission has called for an emergency meeting of the UN Committee on Relations with the Host Country to discuss the recent incidents and the City of New York's decision to discontinue round the clock police protection at the Cuban Mission. USUN would appreciate learning of any update in Department's plans to engage New York City officials regarding possible re-establishment of police coverage of the Cuban Mission. ¶2. BEGIN TEXT OF CUBAN NOTE OF 1/7/08: Complimentary salutation...and has the honor to inform that on last 26 December 2007 an unidentified person threw a stone against one of the glass doors of the building where the Mission of Cuba to the United Nations is located, shattering it. The Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations immediately phoned the Liaison of the Diplomatic Security Service of the Department of State and the New York Police Department to inform about this action and noticed that this person remained standing in the doorway of the Mission shouting insults and insisting that he would not leave that place until the police came for him. Later the police arrived and took him to the police station. The Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations considers that the unilateral removal of police protection of the Cuban Mission to the United Nations brings about the commission of actions like this. The Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations wishes to recall its note verbale NV. 6185, 27 November 2007, in which the Mission of Cuba to the United Nations conveyed its concern at the measure taken by the Diplomatic Security Service and the New York Police Department with the removal of police protection of the Cuban Mission to the United Nations and stressed the responsibility, regarding the security of this Mission, that the United States authorities incur in with this new measure taken. Complimentary close...End Text KHALILZAD