VZCZCXRO4498
RR RUEHPA
DE RUEHJL #0168 0771317
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 181317Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY BANJUL
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6490
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0057
RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA 0001

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANJUL 000168 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/17/2016 
TAGS: PREL PGOV KPAO UN GA CU
SUBJECT: THE GAMBIA: ANTI-U.S. PROPAGANDA EFFORT BY CUBAN 
EMBASSY 
 
 
Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOSEPH STAFFORD, REASON 1.4 (B AND D) 
 
SUMMARY 
-------- 
 
¶1. (C) Embassy protested effort by Cuban Embassy to enlist 
Gambian public support for an anti-USG "declaration,"  and 
senior Foreign Ministry official undertook to tell the Cubans 
to cease and desist.  The GOTG is far from being a mouthpiece 
for the Cuban regime, although it is an important donor here 
in the health field. END SUMMARY. 
 
CUBAN EMBASSY'S PR EFFORT 
------------------------- 
 
¶2. (U) Recent days have witnessed signs of a public relations 
campaign here by the Cuban Government. On March 16, the local 
press featured a report, clearly supplied by the Cuban 
Embassy, that "at least 400 intellectuals and other 
personalities around the world have called on the United 
States to close its detention centers and cease its 
deliberate violations of human dignity in the name of the 
so-called war against terrorism."   The report, accompanied 
by a photo of Cuban Ambassador to The Gambia Carlos 
Salsamendi, concluded with an announcement that anyone 
wishing to sign on to the foregoing "declaration" should 
contact the Cuban Embassy. 
 
¶3. (C) Following appearance of the press report, Embassy 
issued a diplomatic note to protest the announcement, noting 
that it amounted to an effort by the Cuban Government to 
mobilize Gambian public opinion for anti-USG propaganda 
purposes and requesting the GOTG to ensure that the Cuban 
effort ceased.  In the Foreign Minister's absence, Ambassador 
also contacted the Foreign Ministry's number-two, Permanent 
Secretary William Joof, emphasizing that the Cuban Embassy's 
 
SIPDIS 
initiative was an unacceptable attempt by another state to 
enlist Gambian public support for an  anti-U.S. propaganda 
campaign.  In response, Joof said he took our point and 
undertook to tell the Cuban Ambassador to cease and desist. 
 
MESSAGE FROM CASTRO 
------------------- 
 
¶4. (U) On March 17, the Gambian media reported a message from 
Castro to Gambian President Yahya Jammeh conveying Castro's 
thanks for "standing resolutely behind Cuba at the United 
Nations in the bid to end the blockade imposed on the Cuban 
people."  The media did not elaborate on the message, which 
presumably was an allusion to past UN debates on the issue. 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶5. (C) With its generally moderate, pro-Western outlook, the 
GOTG is far from being a mouthpiece for Havana.  At the same 
time, the occasional, favorable references to Cuba in 
official pronouncements and in the media are not surprising, 
as Cuba is among the more prominent bilateral donors here. 
Its assistance is largely confined to the health field; the 
250 or so Cuban physicians in The Gambia serve as the 
backbone of the country's medical system. 
 
¶6. (U) COMMENT CONTINUED: On the detention issue, Embassy 
will continue to look for opportunities to use relevant 
guidance from the Department in our public diplomacy 
activities here. END COMMENT. 
 
 
STAFFORD