ITALY: RESPONSE FOR REVIEW OF SUSPENSION OF TITLE

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 000595 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CCA GABRIELA ZAMBRANO E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/21/2019 TAGS: ETRD ETTC PREL CU IT SUBJECT: ITALY: RESPONSE FOR REVIEW OF SUSPENSION OF TITLE III OF THE LIBERTAD ACT REF: STATE 48487 Classified By: Political Officer Gabriel Escobar, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (U) This message is post's response to reftel request for updated information necessary for the President's consideration of continued suspension of Title III of the LIBERTAD Act. ¶2. (C) There has been no significant change in Italian relations with Cuba over the past six months. There were no high-level diplomatic visits between Cuba and Italy during this period. Italy continues to support the EU's common position on Cuba, including the dual-track approach of engagement with the Cuban government and outreach to the democratic opposition. Italy does not participate in exchange programs with Cuba. ¶3. (C) Italian trade with Cuba was $415 million in 2007, the last year for which there is complete data, making Italy Cuba's eighth-largest trading partner. The most significant Italian investment in Cuba remains Telecom Italia's 27-percent ownership stake of Etecsa, the Cuban telecom monopoly. DIBBLE