Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09DAMASCUS16
2009-01-05 14:44:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Damascus
Cable title:
SYRIA-CUBA: TITLE III OF THE LIBERTAD ACT,
how-toVZCZCXYZ0005 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHDM #0016/01 0051444 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 051444Z JAN 09 FM AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5760 INFO RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA PRIORITY 0007 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L DAMASCUS 000016
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/ELA, NEA/RA, WHA/CCA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/04/2019
TAGS: ETRD ETTC PGOV CU SY
SUBJECT: SYRIA-CUBA: TITLE III OF THE LIBERTAD ACT,
DECEMBER 2008
REF: SECSTATE 126578
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Maura Connelly for reasons 1.4(b,d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L DAMASCUS 000016
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/ELA, NEA/RA, WHA/CCA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/04/2019
TAGS: ETRD ETTC PGOV CU SY
SUBJECT: SYRIA-CUBA: TITLE III OF THE LIBERTAD ACT,
DECEMBER 2008
REF: SECSTATE 126578
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Maura Connelly for reasons 1.4(b,d)
1. (C) In response to reftel, Post reports that the SARG has
taken no actions in 2008 to promote the advancement of
democracy or human rights in Cuba and as a matter of foreign
policy has expressed support for the regime of Fidel Castro.
--------------
Cuban Ambassador Blames U.S. for Hurricane Damage
--------------
2. (SBU) Local Syrian media covered two public statements
from Cuban Ambassador to Syria Luis Figuredo. Figuredo
denounced U.S. allegations of human rights abuses in Cuba on
May 20 as unfounded, and characterized the statements as part
of the continuing "unjust American siege" of Cuba. In early
October, the Cuban Ambassador praised Syria's support for
Cuba's "struggle to maintain its sovereignty" over the past
50 years since Cuba's revolution. Figuredo blamed the 40
year-old U.S. trade embargo for "damaging" the Cuban people,
and for exacerbating the effects of Hurricanes Gustav and
Ike. He expressed Cuba's readiness to begin "unconditional
negotiations" with the U.S., as long as such negotiations did
not threaten Cuba's "sovereignty and independence." Finally,
Figuredo said that Cuba is eager to develop its economic
relationship with Syria to the same level as the political
relationship between the two states.
--------------
High-level Diplomatic Visits
--------------
3. (C) A Cuban delegation led by Alfonso Frago Perez,
Secretary General of the Organization of Solidarity with the
People of Asia, Africa and Latin America (OSPAAAL),
participated in the November 2008 Palestinian Right of Return
conference. At the conference, Perez reiterated Cuba's
support for Syria's right to regain the Golan, for the
withdrawal of Israeli forces to the June 1967 borders, for
the establishment of a Palestinian state, and for the right
of Palestinian refugees to return to their homeland.
Expanding the limits of diplomatic hyperbole, Perez then
championed Cuba and Syria's roles in defending the human
rights of the world's peoples.
4. (C) On the margins of the Right of Return conference,
Executive Secretary of the Cuban-Arab Friendship Association
Gonzales (no first name given) met with Ba'ath Party Regional
Command member Osama Adi. Adi expressed Syria's solidarity
with the Cuban people, especially with the detainees in
Guantanamo Bay, and said that Cuba's ties with Syria make
both countries capable of thwarting "U.S. plots." Cuban
Gonzales issued a public statement condemning the alleged
October 26 U.S. raid of an al-Qaeda safehouse in the Syrian
village of Abu Kamal, saying "this criminal aggression has
proved the U.S. administration's failure in realizing its
plots." He also expressed solidarity with Syrian captives in
Israeli prisons.
5. (SBU) Syrian Minister of Information Mohsen Bilal paid an
official visit to Cuba on the margins of the Havana Trade
Fair on November 3.
--------------
Participation in Trade Fairs
--------------
6. (SBU) In August 2008, Cuba participated in the 55th
Damascus International Fair. The Cuban stand featured
pharmaceutical and biotechnical products and a cigar roller
who demonstrated how Cuban cigars are hand-rolled. Members
of the Havana Scientific Complex and Cuban Chamber of
Commerce met with Syrian Minister of Economy and Trade Amer
Lufti.
7. (SBU) According to local media, Syria reciprocated by
operating a stand at the Havana Trade Fair, although names of
participating Syrian companies and businessmen were not
reported. On the margins of the fair, the Cuban Director of
Foreign Trade for the Middle East met with the Syrian
Director of Foreign Trade with Latin America to discuss
opportunities to strengthen their economic relationship.
--------------
Bilateral Trade Agreements
--------------
8. (SBU) In September 2008, Syrian Minister of Agriculture
Adel Safar met with Cuban Ambassador Figuredo to review a
bilateral MOU calling for cooperation in the production of
veterinary pharmaceuticals and vaccines. (Comment: To date,
there has been no public opening of any joint Cuban-Syrian
factory for manufacturing veterinary pharmaceuticals. End
comment.)
CONNELLY
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/ELA, NEA/RA, WHA/CCA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/04/2019
TAGS: ETRD ETTC PGOV CU SY
SUBJECT: SYRIA-CUBA: TITLE III OF THE LIBERTAD ACT,
DECEMBER 2008
REF: SECSTATE 126578
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Maura Connelly for reasons 1.4(b,d)
1. (C) In response to reftel, Post reports that the SARG has
taken no actions in 2008 to promote the advancement of
democracy or human rights in Cuba and as a matter of foreign
policy has expressed support for the regime of Fidel Castro.
--------------
Cuban Ambassador Blames U.S. for Hurricane Damage
--------------
2. (SBU) Local Syrian media covered two public statements
from Cuban Ambassador to Syria Luis Figuredo. Figuredo
denounced U.S. allegations of human rights abuses in Cuba on
May 20 as unfounded, and characterized the statements as part
of the continuing "unjust American siege" of Cuba. In early
October, the Cuban Ambassador praised Syria's support for
Cuba's "struggle to maintain its sovereignty" over the past
50 years since Cuba's revolution. Figuredo blamed the 40
year-old U.S. trade embargo for "damaging" the Cuban people,
and for exacerbating the effects of Hurricanes Gustav and
Ike. He expressed Cuba's readiness to begin "unconditional
negotiations" with the U.S., as long as such negotiations did
not threaten Cuba's "sovereignty and independence." Finally,
Figuredo said that Cuba is eager to develop its economic
relationship with Syria to the same level as the political
relationship between the two states.
--------------
High-level Diplomatic Visits
--------------
3. (C) A Cuban delegation led by Alfonso Frago Perez,
Secretary General of the Organization of Solidarity with the
People of Asia, Africa and Latin America (OSPAAAL),
participated in the November 2008 Palestinian Right of Return
conference. At the conference, Perez reiterated Cuba's
support for Syria's right to regain the Golan, for the
withdrawal of Israeli forces to the June 1967 borders, for
the establishment of a Palestinian state, and for the right
of Palestinian refugees to return to their homeland.
Expanding the limits of diplomatic hyperbole, Perez then
championed Cuba and Syria's roles in defending the human
rights of the world's peoples.
4. (C) On the margins of the Right of Return conference,
Executive Secretary of the Cuban-Arab Friendship Association
Gonzales (no first name given) met with Ba'ath Party Regional
Command member Osama Adi. Adi expressed Syria's solidarity
with the Cuban people, especially with the detainees in
Guantanamo Bay, and said that Cuba's ties with Syria make
both countries capable of thwarting "U.S. plots." Cuban
Gonzales issued a public statement condemning the alleged
October 26 U.S. raid of an al-Qaeda safehouse in the Syrian
village of Abu Kamal, saying "this criminal aggression has
proved the U.S. administration's failure in realizing its
plots." He also expressed solidarity with Syrian captives in
Israeli prisons.
5. (SBU) Syrian Minister of Information Mohsen Bilal paid an
official visit to Cuba on the margins of the Havana Trade
Fair on November 3.
--------------
Participation in Trade Fairs
--------------
6. (SBU) In August 2008, Cuba participated in the 55th
Damascus International Fair. The Cuban stand featured
pharmaceutical and biotechnical products and a cigar roller
who demonstrated how Cuban cigars are hand-rolled. Members
of the Havana Scientific Complex and Cuban Chamber of
Commerce met with Syrian Minister of Economy and Trade Amer
Lufti.
7. (SBU) According to local media, Syria reciprocated by
operating a stand at the Havana Trade Fair, although names of
participating Syrian companies and businessmen were not
reported. On the margins of the fair, the Cuban Director of
Foreign Trade for the Middle East met with the Syrian
Director of Foreign Trade with Latin America to discuss
opportunities to strengthen their economic relationship.
--------------
Bilateral Trade Agreements
--------------
8. (SBU) In September 2008, Syrian Minister of Agriculture
Adel Safar met with Cuban Ambassador Figuredo to review a
bilateral MOU calling for cooperation in the production of
veterinary pharmaceuticals and vaccines. (Comment: To date,
there has been no public opening of any joint Cuban-Syrian
factory for manufacturing veterinary pharmaceuticals. End
comment.)
CONNELLY