Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BRATISLAVA216
2009-05-20 07:13:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bratislava
Cable title:  

SLOVAKIA: LIBERTAD ACT REVIEW

Tags:  PREL CU LO 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO9198
PP RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHSL #0216 1400713
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 200713Z MAY 09 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY BRATISLAVA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2496
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000216 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CCA G. ZAMBRANO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/19/2019
TAGS: PREL CU LO
SUBJECT: SLOVAKIA: LIBERTAD ACT REVIEW

REF: STATE 48487

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Keith A. Eddins, for reasons 1.4 b and
d.

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000216

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CCA G. ZAMBRANO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/19/2019
TAGS: PREL CU LO
SUBJECT: SLOVAKIA: LIBERTAD ACT REVIEW

REF: STATE 48487

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Keith A. Eddins, for reasons 1.4 b and
d.


1. (U) Below are our responses to the questions posed in
reftel.


2. (C) Has the host country, in Post's opinion, worked to
promote the advancement of democracy and human rights in
Cuba? A: In our view, Slovakia has worked to advance human
rights and democracy in several specific ways.
Non-governmental organizations are providing assistance in
building civil society and education; these organizations are
funded with USG assistance, with the GoS's 2 percent opt-in
tax for NGOs, and with money raised directly from the Slovak
public. In addition, the Slovak Embassy in Havana offers
free internet access to Cuban citizens on its premises. A
number of prominent Slovak public figures, including several
members of the European Parliament, sponsor the families of
17 political prisoners in Cuba. Finally, the GoS supports
eight refugee families that have been relocated in Slovakia.


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? A: The
Ministry of Foreign Affairs periodically issues statements
supporting human rights in Cuba; it did so most recently in
May 2008.


4. (C) Have there been any high-level diplomatic visits
between Cuba and the host country in the past six months? A:
No; a State Secretary of the Ministry of Economy visited Cuba
in April, 2009, to attend the Slovak-Cuban Intergovernmental
Committee for Economic Cooperation.


5. (C) What is the nature of investments (and names, if
known) that host country businesses have in Cuba? A: We are
unaware of any Slovak investments in Cuba.


6. (C) Are there any bilateral trade agreements or other
cooperative agreements between host country and Cuba? A: A
bilateral trade agreement between Slovakia and Cuba was
signed in October 2008.


7. (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? A: We are unaware of any formal exchange
programs between Slovakia and Cuba. The Ministry of
Education's official list of international agreements does
not include Cuba.

EDDINS