CUBA STILL IN THE DARK ABOUT PASSENGER SCREENING,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HAVANA 000026 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CCA AND WHA/PD DHS FOR OIA/LMIZELL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL EAIR PGOV CU SUBJECT: CUBA STILL IN THE DARK ABOUT PASSENGER SCREENING, ALL-OUT CAMPAIGN TO BE REMOVED FROM LIST REF: A. STATE 1187 ("ENGAGING ON NEW PASSENGER SCREENING RULES") ¶B. HAVANA 8 (CUBA AGHAST AT LANDING ON LIST) ¶1. (SBU) Chief of Mission and Pol-Econ Chief met on January 11 with Cuban Foreign Ministry officials to deliver points per Reftel A on the new regulations on passenger screening. The officials, including North America Division Director Josefina Vidal, said that this was the first official information that they had received on the new procedures. The Cuban Government (GOC) has not been contacted by the private airlines that fly between Cuba and the United States or by other USG agencies. CUBA STILL IN THE DARK -------------- ¶2. (SBU) The Cuban officials noted that, despite the many official links between the U.S. civil aviation and security authorities (including, they added, the Transportation Security Administration, which conducted airport inspections in Cuba a few years ago) the GOC had not received any information on the new passenger screening rules. They said that the private airlines that operate in Cuba, including the charter airlines that fly to the United States directly, had yet to share any information either. "As of last Thursday (January 7),we had yet to receive anything on these regulations," and were going solely by news reports, Vidal stated. The Foreign Ministry officials did not say whether the GOC intended to cooperate with the new regulations, a decision that would not seem forthcoming until they had information on what would be required of them. QUESTIONS ON NEXT STEPS -------------- ¶3. (SBU) The Cubans asked whether they could expect to receive further information on the regulations, to which the COM replied in the affirmative. In particular, the GOC officials asked whether forthcoming information, including the details of the new procedures, would come through the private airlines or the USG, or both, and when they could expect to receive it. We said that we would reply with further details as soon as this information is available to us. STILL INDIGNANT, SEEKING EXCLUSION FROM THE PASSENGER LIST -------------- -------------- ¶4. (SBU) The GOC continues to demand its removal from the passenger screening list in the strongest tones. Vidal said that the GOC understood the United States' need to protect ourselves from terrorism and enact the necessary measures, and assured us that "Cuba would never tolerate an act of air terrorism" being hatched from the island. At the same time, she complained that Cuba's inclusion did not advance U.S. safety concerns and that it was "clear" to them that the new passenger screening rules "had been taken without seriousness or reflection." Note: Cuba's inclusion into the passenger screening list and the State Sponsors of Terrorism group of countries has been decried in the official media relentlessly, in an all-out GOC-orchestrated campaign against Cuba,s presence in both lists. SEEKING MODIFICIATION OF THE PASSENGER LIST -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Although the GOC understands (but does not accept) that removal from the State Sponsors list is not a simple issue, the Foreign Ministry officials seemed interested in the fact that the passenger screening list of countries was under review and would continue to be reviewed as circumstances merit. Although skeptical ("we know very well that once you get in these lists, you never come out," Vidal countered),they asked what were the prospects of getting Cuba out of the passenger screening list. ACTION REQUEST: INFORMATION AND REVIEW HAVANA 00000026 002 OF 002 -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Post seeks further information about the new passenger screening rules and next steps between USG agencies and GOC counterparts, in order to maximize chances that the GOC will cooperate. We would also urge the interagency community to review the impact that the new screening rules may have on direct flights between Cuba and the United States, and whether adjustments to the regulations or list of countries are warranted in light of existing circumstances. In the meantime, charter flights continue although the new regulations have not been implemented. FARRAR