CUBA - LIBERTAD ACT RESPONSE FROM POLAND

C O N F I D E N T I A L WARSAW 000521 SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CCA GZAMBRANO E.O. 12958: DECL: 5/21/2019 TAGS: ETRD ETTC PREL CU PL SUBJECT: CUBA - LIBERTAD ACT RESPONSE FROM POLAND REF: STATE 48487 Classified By: ECON SECTION CHIEF M. SESSUMS FOR REASONS 1.4 (b,d) ¶1. (U) Post provides the following in response to ref A questions. ¶2. (U) Promotion of democracy and human rights in Cuba: Poland has an excellent track record with respect to supporting freedom and democracy in Cuba, and believes that its experience in the Solidarity trade movement and its own transition from communism to a vibrant democracy give it particular expertise to share with the Castro regime's democratic opposition. ¶3. (SBU) Public statements: A "Free Cuba" Caucus exists in the Polish Parliament. In March, the Caucus and the Lech Walesa Institute organized a photo exhibition in the main hall of the parliament to commemorate the sixth anniversary of the Castro regime's crackdown on dissidents. The exhibition was entitled, "Cuba Libre: Dream or Reality" and was opened by the Speaker of the Sejm, the lower house of parliament. The Cuban Ambassador to Poland lodged strong protests against the exhibition with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Parliament. ¶4. (C) Public statements (continued): The Polish Embassy in Havana continued its outreach to Cuban civil society and dissidents. Poland also continues to support Cuban dissidents in internal EU discussions. Daniel Gromann, Counselor in the MFA's Americas Division, told EconOff that the EU is beginning a review of the Council's Conclusions on Cuba. Given the meager interaction the EU has had with Cuban officials over the last year, the main issues in the policy review will be: conditionality for dialogue, when the subsequent EU review will occur, and what it would mean if that evaluation's results were "negative." Gromann stated it is difficult to predict how difficult the discussions will be, but noted that one bloc within the EU is opposed to evaluating at all whether dialogue with the Cubans is leading anywhere; this group sees discussion in itself as positive. Nevertheless, Gromann predicted that in the end, EU Member States will agree to another review in June 2010. Poland will advocate for EU focus on the human rights situation in Cuba, and the need for dialogue to produce meaningful results. The Poles are also troubled by the fact that European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid Louis Michel was in Cuba in March, the anniversary of the crackdown on dissidents, but did not meet with dissidents. ¶5. (C) High level diplomatic visits: In the last six months there have been two high-level Polish government visits to Cuba. The Polish Minister of Culture attended the International Book Fair in Havana in February. A film festival featuring the movies of Polish director Andrzej Wajda was held as part of an effort to reach out to official Cuban cultural institutions and to portray Poland as a successful country developing prosperously, in contrast to Cuban propaganda portraying former Warsaw Pact countries as infested by crime, drugs and disease. The Minister held bilateral meetings while in Cuba, and also met privately with civil society representative Dagoberto Valdes from Pinar del Rio. Although the meeting with Valdes was not publicized, the Cubans lodged protests over the meeting both in Warsaw and in Havana. Gromann said other EU countries have received similar push back from the Cubans when they have met with dissidents. Henryk Jezierski, Under Secretary of State and Chief National Geologist in the Ministry of Environment, attended a geological conference in Havana. Gromann said the conference's subject matter was technical, and that Jezierski did not meet with any dissidents while in Cuba. Finally, Adam Szejnfeld, Deputy Minister of Economy, had planned a visit to Cuba and Mexico, but cancelled the trip after the outbreak of H1N1 influenza. ¶6. (U) Investments: Gromann and officials at the Ministry of Economy stated they were unaware of any investment by Polish firms in Cuba. ¶7. (U) Trade Agreements: At present there are no legally-binding trade agreements between Poland and Cuba. ¶8. (SBU) Exchange Programs: There are no known exchange programs between Poland and Cuba, and certainly no Cuban-government sponsored doctors working in Poland. It is possible that a few Cubans are students in Polish universities. ASHE