Response Regarding Title III of the Libertad Act

C O N F I D E N T I A L LA PAZ 001559

SIPDIS
FOR STATE WHA/CCA JARAHN HILLSMAN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/11/17
TAGS: PGOV PREL ETRD KDEM BL CU
SUBJECT: Response Regarding Title III of the Libertad Act

REF: 09 STATE 115416

CLASSIFIED BY: John Creamer, Charge d'affaires, Department of State,
Embassy La Paz; REASON: 1.4B, D


1. (U) The following responses are keyed to the questions in
reftel.


2. (C) Has the host country, in Post's opinion, worked to promote
the advancement of democracy and human rights in Cuba?

No. Bolivian government officials are strongly supportive of the
existing Cuban government and critical of U.S. Government policy
toward Cuba. For example, while in Cuba in June, President Morales
called the U.S. attitude toward Cuba "genocidal." On that same
trip, Morales gave the families of the "Cuban 5" samples of a stamp
issued by the Bolivian Postal system that depicts the faces of the
five accused and reads, "Bolivian Movement of Solidarity with
Cuba."


3. (C) Has the host country 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?

No. The Morales government, which was strongly supportive of the
derogation of the Organization of American States' s suspension of
Cuba, continues to argue that additional action is needed and to
advocate strongly for the lifting of economic sanctions.


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

President Morales traveled to Havana in June where he thanked the
Cuban government for its "unconditional cooperation" and stated,
"had it not been for Cuba (and Venezuela) and their cooperation
from the first moment, we would have had many problems in Bolivia;
I would have had many problems in Bolivia." Vice President JosC)
Ramon Machado of Cuba attended the Alliance for the People of the
Americas (ALBA) Summit in Cochabamba in October. While in Bolivia,
he also had dinner at the President's residence in La Paz, and
joined the Bolivians in announcing that Cuba would host the next
ALBA meeting, in December, where they will celebrate the fifth
anniversary of the Alliance.


5. (C) What is the nature of investments (and names, if known)
that host country businesses have in Cuba?

Post is not aware of any Bolivian businesses currently operating in
Cuba.


6. (C) Are there any bilateral trade agreements or other
cooperative agreements between host country and Cuba?

There are no new agreements. Cuba and Bolivia have a
"Complementary Economic Agreement." However, trade between the two
countries remains small. To date in 2009, total Bolivian exports
to Cuba total US $368,843, 36 percent of which is fuel oil. They
are also both members of ALBA, to which in April 2006, the
governments of Bolivia, Cuba, and Venezuela added a Trade
Agreement.


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 the host country?

The GOB is proud to link its current campaign, "Bolivia Cambia, Evo
Cumple" (Bolivia Changes, Evo Completes) to assistance received
from the Government of Cuba. The Cuban Medical Brigade has been
present in Bolivia since 2006. In June, the press reported that
Brigade doctors have provided more than 30 million free treatments
to the people of Bolivia. That same month, the Cuban Embassy
issued a report showing that Cuban doctors have saved the lives of

25,000 patients and conducted 45,000 operations, not including
ophthalmological surgeries. Through their "Operation Milagro,"
Cuban doctors have conducted 447,386 ophthalmological surgeries and
built several ophthalmological centers throughout the country,
including one in Riberalta inaugurated in June. The Cuban
government also donated state-of-the art equipment to 43 hospitals.
In October, the papers reported the inauguration of a new program,
"Borders, Health, and the Armed Forces" which provides free medical
attention through mobile brigades involving Cuban support to the
Bolivian military. In addition, 135 Cuban doctors are
participating in a Bolivian national disability study, "Moto
Mendez." Through this activity, Cuban, Venezuelan, and Bolivian
doctors have visited 26,000 homes and identified 1,600 people with
disabilities. Approximately 59 Cuban experts arrived in early
November to join 130 Bolivian teachers to implement the "Yo Si
Puede Seguir" ("Yes I Can Keep Going") campaign. This program is a
follow-on to initial literacy training conducted through the
Cuban-sponsored "Yo Se Puede" ("Yes I Can") program.
Creamer