THAILAND CONFIRMS NO MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 002874

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CCA - JARAHN HILLSMAN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/10/2019
TAGS: ETRD ETTC PREL CU TH
SUBJECT: THAILAND CONFIRMS NO MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS IN
BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP WITH CUBA

REF: A. STATE 115416

B. BANGKOK 1217 (THAILAND RESPONSE)

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Classified By: Pol Counselor George Kent, reasons 1.4 (b, d)


1. (SBU) Poloff engaged Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA)
Latin AMERICA Division official Trit Kiriratnikom November 11
regarding updated information on the Thai-Cuban relationship.
Trit explained that there had been no major developments in
the Thai-Cuban relationship in the past six months, since we
last responded to a similar query (ref B). Trit re-confirmed
that Thailand does not have significant economic or political
interests in Cuba. We have provided information on
Thai-Cuban ties below, as requested ref A.


2. (C) Response:

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

Thailand has not specifically worked to advance democracy and
human rights in Cuba; this is in keeping with Royal Thai
Government (RTG) policy not to intervene in the domestic
affairs of a sovereign nation unless prompted by the UN or
other multilateral fora, according to Trit.

(b) - Has the RTG 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?

Because of the above-mentioned policy and lack of significant
relations, Thailand has not made public statements or taken
other actions supporting civil society in Cuba or condemning
human rights abuses in Cuba.

(c) - Have there been any high-level diplomatic visits
between Cuba and the host country in the past six months?

MFA Special Advisor Surapong Jayanama, to Foreign Minister
Kasit Piromya, attended the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)
Ministerial Meeting in Havana, Cuba April 27-30. Kasit
attend the NAM Summit in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt July 11-16 on
behalf of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. Surapong and
Kasit attended the NAM meetings attended by Cuban officials,
but there were no bilateral meetings.

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

The Bank of Thailand (BOT) reports no investment from
Thailand to Cuba. Commercial banks are required to report to
the BOT all foreign currency transactions that come into or
go out of Thailand, including any involving Thai investments
overseas.

(e) - Are there any bilateral trade agreements or other
cooperative agreements between Thailand and Cuba?

There are no trade agreements between Thailand and Cuba, but
there is some limited bilateral trade between the two. In
2008, the total trade was less than $10 million. The primary
Thai export to Cuba was rubber ($3.6 million) and the primary
import from Cuba was tobacco products ($0.7 million). In
2007 total trade was $7.1 million, and in 2006 total trade
was $31.63 million.

(f) - Are there any exchange programs between Thailand and
Cuba, including but not limited to: scholarships for Thai
nationals to study in Cuba; Cuban-paid medical travel for
Thai nationals; and Cuban doctors working in Thailand?

Limited exchange programs do exist between Cuba and Thailand,
according to Trit. Cuban experts come to Thailand for

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agriculture and fisheries training and, in return, Thai
students go to Cuba for physical education courses. The
coaches of the 1996 and 2000 Thai Olympic boxing teams were
Cubans. There have also been attempts to establish
cooperation in the area of medical vaccines, but nothing has
materialized.
JOHN