LIBERTAD ACT: INPUT FOR UK

C O N F I D E N T I A L LONDON 001226 SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CCA GZAMBRANO E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/21/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL ETRD ETTC PHUM CU UK SUBJECT: LIBERTAD ACT: INPUT FOR UK REF: SECSTATE 48487 Classified By: Political Counselor Rick Mills for reasons 1.4 b and d ¶1. (C) Summary. Further to reftel, Poloff met with Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) officers May 21 to seek updated information about HMG actions and policies concerning Cuba. HMG remains committed to promoting the development of democratic institutions and human rights in Cuba and is disappointed at the lack of Cuban progress in these areas -- a point of view which the FCO says is shared by other EU countries. The UK's policy toward Cuba continues to be based upon the EU Common Position of 1996, which sets out that "full co-operation with Cuba will depend upon improvements in human rights and political freedom." UK officials have publicly called for improvement in Cuba's human rights situation. No UK Ministers have visited Cuba since 2005. End Summary. ¶2. (C) During a May 21 meeting with Poloff, Sujeevan Satheesan, Head of the Mexico, Central America, Cuba, Dominican Republic and Haiti Section at the FCO, and Marianne Kalloor, FCO Central America and Cuba Desk Officer, reaffirmed HMG's commitment to promoting the development of democratic institutions and the protection of human rights in Cuba. Satheesan underscored that HMG, like other EU governments, is "disappointed that there has been no real movement on human rights (in Cuba) in the last year." Both officers underscored that "Cuba has not progressed," stressing that when the EU reviews in June the EU Common Position regarding its policy toward Cuba, the result of the review will reflect EU-wide disappointment with the lack of progress. They noted that the EU's representatives have "spoken in strong terms" during recent discussions with Cuban diplomats about human rights issues in Cuba. During the most recent EU-Cuba "political dialogue," in May, Cuban diplomats "reacted badly" when the EU participants raised human rights concerns with them. Satheesan and Kalloor stated that within EU fora the UK has raised, and will continue to raise, concerns about lack of Cuban progress in regard to human rights issues, such as political prisoners. ¶3. (C) Further to the questions posed in reftel, Post provides the following updated answers pertaining to the UK's involvement in and relations with Cuba. The answers are keyed to the questions posed in reftel: �0A;Has the UK, in Post's opinion, worked to promote the advancement of democracy and human rights in Cuba? -- Yes. The UK's policy toward Cuba continues to be based upon the EU Common Position of 1996, which sets out that "full co-operation with Cuba will depend upon improvements in human rights and political freedom." HMG officials state that the UK has raised, and will continue to raise, within EU fora concerns about lack of Cuban progress in regard to human rights issues, such as political prisoners. The UK has worked actively within the EU to negotiate a middle ground for the common policy between those who would like to completely open relations with Cuba and those who would like to isolate it. The UK, as a matter of foreign policy strategy, adopts a nearly universal policy of constructive engagement and believes that engaging more Cuban officials will allow it to identify those who are most likely to facilitate a democratic transition in Cuba. HMG has underscored that it remains committed to ensuring that dialogue between the EU and Cuba produces human rights improvements. ¶4. (C) Has the UK made other public statements or undertaken other governmental actions, such as resolutions in Parliament condemning human rights abuses in Cuba; or actions in support of civil society in Cuba through diplomatic missions or other fora? --Yes. For example, the UK statement on February 5, 2009 for the Universal Periodic Review of the UN Human Rights Council recommends "that Cuba refrains from using such laws as those against dangerousness, enemy propaganda and contempt for authority to restrict the rights of freedom of expression and association." The UK's statement contains other recommendations regarding human rights, such as urging Cuba to allow "international independent human rights organizations to visit." --Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) officials regularly cite Cuba in their speeches as the only non-democratic country in Latin America, as Foreign Secretary Miliband did in a February 2008 speech at Oxford University on "The Democratic Imperative." In HMG's annual Human Rights Report, Cuba is listed as one of the 21 "Major Countries of Concern," noting particularly the detention of political prisoners and the lack of international access to prisons; the systematic denial of political, civil and economic freedoms; government harassment and intimidation of dissidents; and the death penalty. Ministers are frequently called upon to answer questions in Parliament about Cuban issues including the number of political prisoners held on the island, and their answers are generally in synch with USG views. The UK mission in Havana supports civil society NGOs with small project support, but seeks to do so in a way that does not overtly antagonize the regime. --UK Embassy personnel in Cuba maintain frequent contact with opposition members there. The British Embassy in Havana regularly meets members of the opposition, both in Havana and outside the capital. The UK Embassy monitors events held by dissidents, such as public meetings or for example, activities to mark Human Rights Day. The UK Embassy regularly raises human rights issues in bilateral meetings with the Cuban government in Havana, London and other fora, such as the Human Rights Council in Geneva. The UK also promotes human rights through its public diplomacy activities in Havana. ¶5. (SBU) Have there been any high level diplomatic visits between Cuba and the UK in the past six months? --No UK Ministers have visited Cuba since 2005. In May 2009, the FCO's Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Gillian Merron, stressed in an oral answer to a question posed by a Member of Parliament in the House of Commons that "on the issue of ministerial visits...I would be delighted to visit Cuba, but the difficulty is that the Cuban authorities indicate that, regrettably, they feel it would not be appropriate for British Ministers to meet the opposition. I hope the honorable Gentleman understands. Perhaps he would assist me with this, as we need to see some change in that situation to allow me or other British Ministers to visit Cuba, in line with the EU common position." --Sub-ministerial visits of UK and Cuban officials and experts do take place in the UK. Cuban Vice Foreign Minister Caballero called on Foreign Office Minister Meg Munn in April ¶2008. A Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship visited Havana in October ¶2008. ¶6. (C) What is the nature of investments that UK businesses have in Cuba? --UK businesses have limited trade ties with Cuba. The FCO does not maintain detailed records of investments in Cuba by UK persons or entities. ¶7. (SBU) Are there any bilateral trade agreements between the UK and Cuba? --The FCO is not aware of any bilateral trade agreements between the UK and Cuba. DFID (the Department for International Development) does not have a bilateral aid program in Cuba. ¶8. (SBU) Are there any exchange programs between the UK and Cuba, including but not limited to: scholarships for UK nationals to study in Cuba, Cuban paid medical travel for UK nationals, and Cuban doctors working in the UK? --The only HMG exchange program involving Cubans is the Chevening Scholarship, which is a worldwide program that brings foreign nationals to UK universities for post-graduate study in a variety of fields. Individual universities may have other scholarship programs. --HMG has no specific program for Cuban doctors to work in the UK. The FCO is not aware of any medical travel for UK citizens paid for by the Cuban government. Visit London's Classified Website: http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Unit ed_Kingdom LEBARON