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C O N F I D E N T I A L LIMA 001665 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
DEPARTMENT PASS TO WHA/CCA FOR JARAHN HILLSMAN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/11/20 
TAGS: PHUM ETTC ETRD PREL CU PE
SUBJECT: Peru Response to Review for Suspension of Title III of the 
Libertad Act 
 
REF: STATE 115416 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: Nealon, James, DCM, State, Executive; REASON: 1.4(B), 
(D) 
 
¶1. (U) Following is Post's response to reftel questions. 
 
 
 
GOP EFFORTS TO PROMOTE DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN CUBA 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------------ 
 
¶2. (C) Peru's leadership, including President Garcia, has taken an 
ambivalent approach to promoting a democratic transition in Cuba, 
and believe Cuba's current political leaders -- with Raul Castro 
formally in charge and Fidel Castro still alive, presumably 
influencing events in some manner from behind the scenes -- is 
fundamentally sensitive.  Most GOP officials believe a political 
opening in Cuba will become more likely once Fidel dies and Raul is 
able to pursue policies unconcerned by his brother's potentially 
critical reaction.  President Garcia has noted that incipient signs 
of a possible Cuban  opening -- i.e. performance pay for public 
officials, cell phone access -- should be encouraged.  At the same 
time, GOP officials emphasize that any transition process toward 
democracy should be led by the Cuban people and that attempts by 
outside actors to shape the outcome could cause a counterproductive 
backlash.  The GOP favors integrating Cuba into regional groupings 
such as the Summit of the Americas, and ultimately supported U.S. 
led efforts to facilitate Cuba's reintegration into the OAS only 
after it had met certain conditions. 
 
 
 
PUBLIC STATEMENTS OR ACTION CONDEMNING HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------------- 
 
¶3. (C) In a series of public statements surrounding the EU-LAC 
Summit in May 2008, President Garcia argued that the only way for 
any country that has not joined the system of democratic freedoms 
and the world economy is to follow the path of elections, freedom 
of the press and freedom for those who suffer because of their 
political ideas or positions.  Government officials told us these 
statements were a clear allusion to the continuing absence of 
freedom in Cuba. 
 
 
 
HIGH LEVEL VISITS 
 
----------------- 
 
¶4. (SBU) Peru's former Health Minister Hernan Garrido Lecca visited 
Cuba in late April of 2008 -- the first such high level visit in 
recent memory.  Tentative early plans for a follow-on visit by the 
Foreign Minister later, to signal a thaw in bilateral relations and 
to encourage signs of incipient reform under Raul Castro, have not 
come to fruition. 
 
 
 
PERUVIAN INVESTMENTS IN CUBA 
 
---------------------------- 
 
¶5. (U)  Post has not found any reliable data on Peruvian 
investments in Cuba.  The vast majority of Peru's limited foreign 
direct investment is in Mexico, Bolivia, Ecuador, Central America, 
and the Cayman Islands. 
 
 
 
BILATERAL TRADE AND COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS 
 
------------------------------------------ 
 
 
¶6. (U)  Under the 1980 Montevideo Treaty establishing the Latin 
American Integration Association (LAIA), also known as ALADI, Peru 
and Cuba both belong to the Economic Complementation Agreement No. 
¶50.  Other member countries include: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, 
Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Venezuela. 
Peru and Cuba also hold a bilateral investment agreement.  Trade 
between the two countries is small.  From January through November 
2009, the approximate value of Peru's exports to Cuba totaled over 
USD 4.0 million.  About 75 percent of Peru's exports to Cuba 
consisted of: polymer plates, laminates, sheets, strips, bags, 
cones and adhesives; books, brochures and similar printed 
materials; and frozen, dry, salted or briny squid and cuttlefish. 
Peru imports just over half a million dollars worth of products 
from Cuba per year, including rum, vaccines and medical products. 
 
 
 
PERU-CUBA EXCHANGE PROGRAMS 
 
--------------------------- 
 
¶7. (SBU)  In 1999 the two countries signed a Basic Agreement on 
Technical Cooperation, but little has been implemented under this 
agreement due to lack of 
 
financing and prioritization.  In 2008, then-Health Minister Hernan 
Garrido Lecca signed several agreements to formalize Cuban medical 
support in Peru.  According 
 
to one agreement, the GOP will provide funds in exchange for Cuban 
doctors and medical expertise.  The Minister also signed an 
agreement to establish ophthalmology center in Cusco.  A third 
agreement allows a Cuban medical brigade that has helped Peruvian 
victims of the 2007 earthquake in Ica to remain in the country 
longer-term.  About 40 Peruvian students study medicine and 
physical education in Cuba on GOC scholarships at any given time. 
MCKINLEY