EE UU vigila las inversiones en Cuba
Cable sobre las inversiones de empresas españolas en Cuba (3)
La Embajada señala cómo todos los partidos españoles se opondrían a las sanciones estadounidenses aunque el PP no comparta la política de Zapatero con respecto a Cuba
| ID: | 33956 |
| Date: | 2005-06-06 14:04:00 |
| Origin: | 05MADRID2131 |
| Source: | Embassy Madrid |
| Classification: | CONFIDENTIAL |
| Dunno: | 04MADRID4554 05MADRID2114 05SECSTATE96300 |
| Destination: | This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. |
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MADRID 002131 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/WE AND WHA/CCA E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/06/2015 TAGS: ETRD, ETTC, PREL, CU, SP SUBJECT: SPAIN/CUBA: TITLE III OF THE LIBERTAD ACT REF: A. A) SECSTATE 96300 B. B) MADRID 2114 C. C) 2004 MADRID 4554 Classified By: Political Counselor Kathy Fitzpatrick; reasons 1.4 (B) a nd (D) 1. (U) Spain is among the most important foreign investors in Cuba and the ruling Socialist party has continued the Popular Party's policy of encouraging further investment and trade with Cuba. On human rights issues, the GOS has broken with the Aznar administration's emphasis on support for democracy activists in favor of seeking greater dialogue with the Castro regime. Within the EU, Spain successfully advocated the suspension of the EU's policy of inviting dissidents to EU national day events, calling the invitations a major impediment to normal contact with the Cuban authorities. 2. (C) The EU decision to suspend the Restrictive Measures will be reviewed this month in Brussels and the GOS will likely try to claim that the suspension has had a positive effect in Cuba and should be maintained (Ref B). Spanish officials claim that their policy of engagement won the GOC's release of 14 political prisoners in 2004, as well as the GOC's decision to allow former political prisoner Raul Rivero to exit Cuba (and take up residence in Spain) and to permit the May 20 opposition gathering in Havana to take place. The GOS also takes credit for two meetings in Havana in the first six months of 2005 between EU chiefs of mission and Cuban opposition figures. MFA officials insist that these meetings, part of what they describe as a "structured dialogue" between the EU and Cuban democracy activists, are important symbols of EU support for human rights and democratic reforms in Cuba. 3. (C) Post continues to engage GOS interlocutors to convey the USG's strong concern that increased EU engagement with the regime has strengthened, not weakened, Castro's hold on political power at the expense of the opposition. However, it is not likely that the Zapatero government will veer from its current Cuba policy in the near to medium term. Madrid has a substantial political and economic stake in Cuba and appears resigned to Castro's continued leadership. Therefore, Zapatero will continue to favor a strategy that limits the possibility of EU conflict with Castro and will subordinate human rights concerns to its broader interests. The GOS will also seek to maintain its role as the key EU interlocutor with Havana. Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque visited Madrid in March to meet with high level GOS officials, including President Zapatero and Fidel Castro has been invited to participate in the Ibero American Summit in Salamanca, Spain in October. While some in Spain, including the Popular Party, oppose this increased level of engagement, all political forces would oppose the implementation of Title III of the Libertad Act with regard to Spanish companies. 4. (U) Spanish businesses are well aware of the potential of U.S. legal action against them under the Libertad Act and take care to obscure precise invormation regarding their investments in Cuba. However, we have obtained the following general information regarding the major Spanish investors in Cuba: -- Grupo Sol Melia: Hotel/Tourism industry. Locations in Cuba include Havana, Varadero, Cayo Largo, Cayo Santa Maria, Ciego de Avila, Cayo Largo del Sur, Cayo Guillermo, Playa Esmeralda, and Santiago de Cuba. The total investment amount is unknown, but press reports indicate Sol Melia will invest USD 50 million in two hotels in 2004-2005. -- Inversiones Ibersuizas: Commercial investment firm. Investments in Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba. According to press reports, Inversiones Ibersuizas has invested a total of USD 150 million in various Cuban projects. -- Occidental Hotels and Resorts: Hotel/Tourism. Investments in Havana and Play Yuraguanal. Investment amount unknown. -- Grupo Pinero: Hotel/Tourism. Investment in Varadero. Investment of at least USD 2 million, according to press reports. -- Iberostar: Hotel/Tourism. Investments in Varadero, Cayo Coco, and Trinidad. Investment amount unknown. -- Barcelo: Hotel/Tourism. Investments in Varadero and Cayo Largo del Sur. Investment amount unknown. -- NH Hoteles: Hotel/Tourism. Investment in Havana. Investment amount unknown. -- Grupo Riu: Hotel/Tourism. Investment in Varadero. Investment amount unknown. -- Hotetur: Hotel/Tourism. Investment in Varadero and Havana. Investment amount unknown. -- Aguas de Barcelona: Utility. Investment in Havana in joint venture with Aguas de La Habana. Investment of at least EUROS 5 million in 2002. Subsequent investment amounts unknown. -- Grupo Altadis: Tobacco. Unspecified location. Investment amount unknown -- Grupo Freixenet: Wine/Alcoholic Beverages. Unspecified location. According to press reports, Freixenet has invested USD 200,000 to help the Cuban wine industry. -- Repsol YPF: Energy. Investment in Cuban territorial waters. According to press reports, total Repsol investment is USD 25-40 million. -- Iberia Airlines: Transportation industry. Investment in Varadero. Investment amount unknown. MANZANARES |
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