VZCZCXRO8073
RR RUEHAG RUEHROV
DE RUEHSW #2142 3401559
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 061559Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY BERN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3483
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUCNMEU/EU INTEREST COLLECTIVE
RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA 0017

C O N F I D E N T I A L BERN 002142 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA/CCA AND EUR/AGS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/06/2016 
TAGS: ETRD ETTC PREL CU SZ
SUBJECT: CUBA AND TITLE III OF THE LIBERTAD ACT: SWITZERLAND 
 
REF: A. SECSTATE 191752 
     ¶B. BERN 829 
 
Classified By: Poloff Eric Lundberg, Reasons 1.4 b/d 
 
1.(SBU) Summary: Switzerland serves as the U.S. protecting 
power in Cuba.  Already minimal, the country's level of 
commercial engagement with Cuba decreased further after 
November 2006 with the decision by Switzerland's two largest 
banks, UBS and Credit Swiss, to cease all transactions with 
the Cuban government and other entities within Cuba.  Aid is 
humanitarian/agricultural in nature.  The Swiss are active on 
the human rights front.  A decision not to renew Title II for 
Switzerland could cause a public backlash and undermine 
Bern's role as protecting power for the United States.  End 
summary. 
 
Q: Nature of Investments? 
 
A: Switzerland imported about $25 million in goods from Cuba 
in 2004, about 99 percent agricultural (especially tobacco). 
The Swiss in turn exported about $15 million in goods, 
including machines, paper, chemical products, instruments, 
watches, and pharmaceuticals.  Swiss direct investment in 
Cuba is described as minimal (there are no public figures). 
The two largest Swiss banks, UBS and Credit Swiss, decided in 
November 2006 to cease transactions with the Cuban 
government, Cuban companies, and individuals in Cuba.  A UBS 
spokesman cited as grounds the high cost of ensuring that 
Cuban customers respect and conform to legal and financial 
regulations. 
 
Total Swiss development and humanitarian assistance for Cuba 
has been budgeted as Swiss Francs 4.6 million (about $3.6 
million) in 2006.  Nearly all of this aid is for medical 
care, food security, and humanitarian relief. 
 
Q: Bilateral trade agreements? 
 
A: Switzerland and Cuba signed a bilateral trade agreement in 
1952, before the revolution.  The two countries signed a 
bilateral investment treaty in 1996. 
 
Q: Exchange programs? 
 
A: Embassy knows of no government-sponsored exchange programs 
with Cuba. 
 
Q: Advancement of human rights? 
 
A: Swiss embassy officials meet with Cuban dissidents on a 
regular basis.  A four-member mid-level Swiss delegation to 
the Non-Aligned Movement summit in fall of 2006 included the 
head of the Swiss DFA human rights office. 
 
Q: High-level visits? 
 
A: Post is unaware of any bilateral cabinet-level or 
sub-cabinet level visits since the March 2006 visit of Cuban 
Foreign Minister Perez-Rocque (ref B). 
 
2.(C) Comment: The Swiss Embassy in Havana acts as protecting 
power for the U.S. Interest Section there.  Embassy Bern 
understands that Swiss Ambassador Bertrand Louis has been 
very forthcoming in offering assistance to USINT.  Post 
believes that renewing Title II for Switzerland is in the 
interest of the United States. 
URBAN