VZCZCXRO5087
PP RUEHQU
DE RUEHPU #0767 1491351
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 281351Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8267
INFO RUEHZH/HAITI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 000767
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/CAR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD ETTC PREL PGOV HA CU
SUBJECT: HAITI: REVIEW FOR SUSPENSION OF TITLE III OF
LIBERTAD ACT
REF: A. SECSTATE 52541
B. PAP 01921
1. (SBU) Summary: The Government of Haiti values the
assistance it receives from Cuba and does not criticize the
country publicly or privately. Cuba's provision of doctors
in hard-to-reach areas of the country is seen positively by
large sectors of the Haitian public. After the April food
riots, the Cuban and Venezuelan Ministers of Agriculture
visited Haiti to explore providing technical assistance to
Haitian agriculture. Post knows of no Haitian investment in
Cuba. End summary.
Promotion of Democracy and Human Rights in Cuba
--------------------------------------------- --
2. (SBU) The Government of Haiti does not promote democracy
or human rights in Cuba. In its two years in office, the
government of President Rene Preval does not publicly comment
on Cuba's human rights or democracy record. It has kept
silent on the undemocratic succession of power from Fidel to
Raul Castro. This is in keeping with Haiti's practice of not
commenting adversely in public on governments that provide
assistance. There were no demonstrations, public
announcements nor legislative acts in support of the May 21
Day of Solidarity with the Cuban people. Developments in
Cuba receive very little attention in the Haitian press.
Agreements and Exchanges: Health and Energy
--------------------------------------------
3. (SBU) Haiti is a member of the Venezuela-Cuba-Haiti
Tripartite Agreement, which facilitates technical assistance
to Haiti. This includes Venezuela and Cuba's building of
electricity generation plants in the capital, Gonaive, and
Cap Haitien, and their repair of existing electricity plants,
as well as Cuba's provision of physicians working in Haiti.
4. (SBU) Haitian medical students continue to receive
scholarships to study in Cuba. The program began under
Jean-Bertrand Aristide's second administration (2001-2004).
Approximately 1,000 Haitians have participated in this
program. Haitian officials, including President Preval and
Chamber of Deputies President Eric Jean Jacques, have
received medical treatment in Cuba. Post knows of no
Haitians engaging in Cuban-paid medical travel to Cuba.
Trade/Investment
----------------
5. (U) Post is aware of no Haitian public or private
investment in Cuba, nor Cuban investment in Haiti. Post is
aware of no bilateral trade agreements between Haiti and
Cuba.
High-Level Visits
-----------------
6. (SBU) Haitian President Rene Preval attended the Fourth
Petrocaribe Summit held in Cienfuegos, Cuba on December 21,
2007. A Ministry of Agriculture contact told Econoff that
the Cuban and Venezuelan Ministers of Agriculture visited
Haiti in April after the food riots to discuss how each
country could assist in developing Haiti's agricultural
sector.
TIGHE