BELGIUM:COUNTRY BY COUNTRY REVIEW OF THE LIBERTAD

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 000703 SIPDIS STATE PASS WHA/CCA GABRIELA ZAMBRANO AND EUR/WE E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/15/2019 TAGS: ETRD ETTC PREL CU BE SUBJECT: BELGIUM:COUNTRY BY COUNTRY REVIEW OF THE LIBERTAD ACT REF: A. SECSTATE 48487 ¶B. 08 BRUSSELS 1864 Classified By: Political Economic Counselor Richard Eason for Reasons 1 .4 B&D. ¶1. (C) Cuban FM Bruno Rodriguez met with Belgian FM De Gucht during Rodriguez trip to Brussels to meet with EU leaders May 11, 2009. According to MFA contacts, De Gucht pushed Rodriguez on human rights and democracy. Cuban policy has not been a priority for the Belgian MFA under De Gucht. ¶2. (SBU) Cuba is not a major destination for Belgian investment, and is a minor trade partner, with Belgian exports to Cuba for 2006 (last year available) of around 39 million euros with imports from Cuba of 3.2 million euros Belgian ODA to Cuba totaled EUR 2.2 million in 2007, though Cuba is not one of Belgium's priority countries for assistance. The full amount was granted to non-governmental projects. BUSH .