Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ABUDHABI1104
2009-11-23 13:46:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:  

UAE RESPONSE: CUBA: COUNTRY BY COUNTRY REVIEW FOR

Tags:  PREL ETTC ETRD CU AE 
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VZCZCXYZ0001
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHAD #1104 3271346
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 231346Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3128
INFO RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA 0010
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 001104 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARP AND WHA/CCA/HILLSMAN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/22/2019
TAGS: PREL ETTC ETRD CU AE
SUBJECT: UAE RESPONSE: CUBA: COUNTRY BY COUNTRY REVIEW FOR
SUSPENSION OF TITLE III OF THE LIBERTAD ACT

REF: STATE 115416

Classified by Ambassador Richard Olson, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 001104

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARP AND WHA/CCA/HILLSMAN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/22/2019
TAGS: PREL ETTC ETRD CU AE
SUBJECT: UAE RESPONSE: CUBA: COUNTRY BY COUNTRY REVIEW FOR
SUSPENSION OF TITLE III OF THE LIBERTAD ACT

REF: STATE 115416

Classified by Ambassador Richard Olson, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (SBU) Cuba and the UAE maintain diplomatic relations, but neither
country has an embassy in the other capital.


2. (C) Embassy responses to reftel questions follow:

- Has the UAE, in Post's opinion, worked to promote
the advancement of democracy and human rights in Cuba?

Post sees no evidence to date of UAE actions designed specifically to
promote human rights or democracy in Cuba.

- Has the UAE made public statements or undertaken
other governmental actions, such as resolutions in national
assemblies condemning human rights abuses in Cuba; or actions in
support of civil society in Cuba through the host country's
diplomatic missions or other fora?

Post is not aware of any UAEG statements with regards to human rights
or civil society in Cuba.

- Have there been any high-level diplomatic visits between Cuba and
the UAE in the past six months?

On October 3, during a tour of twelve Central and South American
countries, Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan (AbZ)
made the first bilateral visit of a senior UAEG official to Cuba.
AbZ met with Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, Vice
President of the Council of Ministers Ricardo Cabrisas Ruiz, and
Foreign Trade and Investment Minister Rodrigues Dias. While not
directly acknowledged, the Foreign Minister's visit is believed to be
directly related to Cuba's support for the UAE to host the
International Renewable Energy Agency.

- What is the nature of investments (and names, if known) that the
UAE businesses have in Cuba?

None known.

- Are there any bilateral trade agreements or other
cooperative agreements between the UAE and Cuba?

During AbZ's October 3 visit, the UAE and Cuba reportedly signed two
agreements relating to political consultations between their foreign
ministries and enhanced trade and investment cooperation. While AbZ
called on Cuban investors to visit the UAE, Ministry of Foreign Trade
officials report that the trade agreement is a generic framework for
future cooperation and does not include specific trade or investment
facilitation.

- Are there any exchange programs between the UAE and Cuba, including
but not limited to: scholarships for host country nationals to study
in Cuba; Cuban-paid medical travel for UAE nationals; and Cuban
doctors working in the UAE?

Post is unaware of any exchange programs between the two countries.

OLSON