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