Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
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09QUITO375 | 2009-05-21 17:34:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Quito |
1. (C) The Embassy provides the following information on the relationship between the Cuban government and Ecuador in response to reftel. 2. (C) Ecuador has not worked to promote the advancement of democracy and human rights in Cuba, nor has it undertaken governmental action to condemn human rights abuses or to support civil society in Cuba. On the contrary, President Correa and members of his cabinet paid an official visit to Cuba in January 2009, during which Correa declared himself an unconditional ally of Cuba. He commended the Cuban revolution and claimed it had succeeded in ensuring human rights for all Cubans. Correa has since also made several calls for the U.S. to end its "blockade" against Cuba. 3. (C) According to press reports, 100 Ecuadorians received scholarships for study in Cuba in 2008, especially in medicine, and a similar number of scholarships have been issued annually. Some government officials are known to have studied in Cuba. 4. (SBU) Ecuador does not have significant economic or political interests in Cuba. During Correa's official trip to Cuba in January 2009, the two countries signed nine bilateral agreements in the areas of health, trade, culture, sports, science and technology, electricity and renewable energy, economic cooperation, reciprocal visa treatment for government officials, and political consultations. An MOU to negotiate expansion of the economic cooperation agreement between the two countries was also signed. Cuban doctors also operate within Ecuador. 5. (C) Comment: The signing of cooperation agreements between Ecuador and Cuba does not necessarily signal increased cooperation in the future. Ecuador has signed agreements with many countries which have been largely political and symbolic in nature. HODGES =======================CABLE ENDS============================ |