C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 001299
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CCA JARAHN HILLSMAN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/24/2019
TAGS: PREL, ETRD, ETTC, CU, IT
SUBJECT: ITALY: RESPONSE FOR REVIEW OF SUSPENSION OF TITLE
III OF THE LIBERTAD ACT
REF: STATE 115416
Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Barbara Leaf for reasons 1.
4(b) and 1.4(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. Italy engages
Cuba on the advancement of democracy and human rights within
the framework of the Common Position adopted by the EU in
1996, and most recently assessed in June 2009 at the General
Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) meeting. The
GOI also engages Cuba through bilateral interactions with
diplomatic counterparts and regular contact with the
democratic opposition by the GOI's mission in Havana.
3. (C) Public statements condemning human right's abuses are
limited to the EU level. The Italian Chamber of Deputies has
made no known statements on the topic recently.
4. (C) As part of a tour of Asia and European capitals,
Cuban Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Dagoberto Rodriguez
Barrera visited Italy on October 15, 2009. He met with MFA
Undersecretary Vincenzo Scotti to discuss bilateral relations
with Cuba and relations within the framework of the EU. They
also discussed the human rights situation in Cuba and Scotti
highlighted what he characterized as the "positive new
approach of the US administration." He expressed his hope
that the Cuban government would seize the opportunity
presented by "the new approach of the Obama administration
towards the island state." Italian Deputy Minister for
Foreign Trade from the Ministry of Economic Development
visited the International Fair in Cuba in November 2009 in
support of Italian enterprise. This visit focused on
commercial, financial, and economic issues.
5. (U) According to the 2008 USG Investment Climate Report on
Italy, the country has bilateral investment agreements with
Cuba. At the November 2009 Havana Trade Fair, which
emphasized increasing opportunities for Italian-Cuba contact,
a significant number of Italian businesses attended. At the
Fair, there were 3,000 copies of catalogs advertising Italian
companies, advertisements that would also be available in the
Caribbean and South America, and catalog listings. Italy
ranks as the sixth largest supplier country to Cuba and the
third for number of investments in Cuba after Spain and
Canada. Telecom Italia controls 27% of Etecsa, Cuba's sole
telephone company. This is a slight decrease from the
previous share of just over 29%. Telecom Italia controls
internet and data transmission. Due to high levels of
tourism which have positively impacted the profitibility of
Etesca, Telecom Italia has maintained its interest in the
company. The contracts between Telecom Italia and Etecsa
include technical assistance, traffic data, and recovery
costs.
6. (C) There are a limited number of exchange programs
between Italy and Cuba. There are a "few" scholarships
offered to Cubans, but "not big numbers" according to Michele
Pala, MFA Office Director for Central America, Mexico and the
Caribbean. No scholarships are offered to Italians. Pala
was not aware of any Cuban-paid medical travel for Italians,
nor of any Cuban doctors working in Italy as part of an
exchange program.
THORNE