VZCZCXYZ0004
OO RUEHWEB
DE RUEHSO #0188 1051236
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 141236Z APR 08
FM AMCONSUL SAO PAULO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8125
INFO RHEHNSC/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 9257
RUEHRI/AMCONSUL RIO DE JANEIRO PRIORITY 8675
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC 3059
UNCLAS SAO PAULO 000188
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE INR/R/MR; IIP/R/MR; WHA/PD
DEPT PASS USTR
USDOC 4322/MAC/OLAC/JAFEE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR OPRC OIIP ETRD BR
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: WESTERN HEMISPHERE: CUBA, GOVERNANCE; SCO
PAULO
1. 'Material Incentives' in Cuba
Center-right O Estado de S.Paulo (4/14) editorializes: "A
resolution adopted in February [in Cuba] but only now made public
establishes that a 'compaero' who is more productive than the other
working the same job will receive a salary proportionally higher...
. The intiative...was branded on state TV as ...an advance in the
construction of socialism and not as the delayed acknowledgment of
the key role competition and incentives play in the realm of
production activities. ...President Ral Castro...[eliminated] the
ban on the purchase of ...microwaves, DVD players, cell phones, air
conditioning, toaster and...computers... . But freedom of speech and
the right to vote on multi-party elections are still as much of a
utopia in Cuba as Marx'vision of work and salary."
2. Opening Cuba
Liberal Folha de S.Paulo (4/13) says: "Although Cuba has overcome
the worst part of the ruin that affected the country after the end
of support it received from the Soviets in the early 90's, the
situation is far from comfortable. The country...imports USD10.9
billion a year and exports only USD3.3 billion. ...The remittances
of dollars from Cuban-Americans to relatives who are in the island
and the oil at prices subsidized by Chavez...help, but are not
enough to cover the hole. It is, therefore, for survival that [Cuban
President] Ral [Castro] deepens the Caribbean 'Perestroika...'
There are also signs that the new leader flirts with a political
depressurization, apparently, with the goal of easing tensions
without changing the nature of the regime."
White