US embassy cable - 04BUENOSAIRES3364

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUENOS AIRES 003364 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT. FOR WHA/CCA; WHA/BSC:RFLEITMAN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/30/2014 
TAGS: ETTC, PREL, CU, AR, MOLINA 
SUBJECT: SUSPENSION OF TITLE III OF THE LIBERTAD ACT: 
COUNTRY REVIEW 
 
REF: A. SECSTATE 248337 
 
     B. BUENOS AIRES 1903 
 
Classified By: AMBASSADOR LINO GUTIERREZ FOR REASONS 1.4(B) AND (D) 
 
1.  (C)  The GOA continues to pursue what it refers to as a 
policy of constructive engagement toward Cuba on democracy 
and human rights issues.  The Presidency and Foreign Ministry 
argue that engagement and the influence that comes with it -- 
however limited -- is the best way to promote reform in Cuba. 
 They point to their advocacy of the case of Cuban physician 
Dr. Hilda Molina, who has to date been refused permission to 
travel to Argentina to visit her son.  The GOA has been 
quietly pressing the GOC to allow Dr. Molina to travel to 
Argentina, and argues that securing this permission advances 
the cause of human rights in Cuba.  The Ambassador, DCM and 
senior USG visitors, including former Presidential Envoy 
Reich and U.S. Ambassador to the OAS Maisto, have repeatedly 
stressed strong USG disagreement with the GOA approach. 
 
2.  (C)  Senior contacts at the Foreign Ministry privately 
recognize the absence of democracy in Cuba and violations of 
human rights, but consistently argue that engagement is the 
most effective means of addressing the situation.  They argue 
that Argentina is committed to achieving the same end as the 
U.S. -- a democratic Cuba integrated into the rest of the 
Western Hemisphere.  Rumors of a pending visit to Cuba by 
President Nestor Kirchner have circulated for some time. 
Foreign Minister Bielsa told the Ambassador on October 29 
that relations with the Castro regime had become distinctly 
cooler in recent months over Castro's refusal to grant the 
travel permit to Dr. Molina.  Bielsa said that Molina had 
become a "bottom line, non-negotiable" issue for the GOA and, 
barring a resolution, made a proposed visit by First Lady, 
Senator Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, unlikely.  Bielsa 
said, however, that if the First Lady did travel to Cuba, it 
would be contingent on her being allowed to visit with 
dissident spouses (the so called "ladies in white") which he 
did not think likely.  (Comment:  Bielsa did not even mention 
the possibility of a visit by President Kirchner.  It bears 
watching, however, what effect--if any--the recent release of 
several Cuban dissidents will have on GOA thinking.) 
 
3.  (U)  The GOA imposes no requirement to register foreign 
direct investment and the Embassy has been unable to uncover 
any major investment by Argentine nationals or Argentine 
public corporations in Cuba.  Trade relations are small and 
limited by Cuba's hard currency shortages to purchase 
Argentine agricultural products.  Argentine exports to Cuba 
in 2003 were valued at USD 23.3 million.  For January - 
September 2004, exports were reported at USD 71 million, a 
367.2 percent increase over the same period from the previous 
year.  Imports from Cuba in 2003 were USD 1.2 million.  From 
January - September 2004, imports were USD 984 thousand, down 
1.6 percent from the same period in 2003. 
GUTIERREZ