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### Viewing cable 07MADRID1179, SPAIN/CUBA: LIBERTAD ACT, TITLE III

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Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
07MADRID1179 | 2007-06-15 07:07 | 2010-12-17 21:09 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Madrid

`

    VZCZCXYZ0002
    PP RUEHWEB

    DE RUEHMD #1179/01 1660723
    ZNY CCCCC ZZH
    P 150723Z JUN 07
    FM AMEMBASSY MADRID
    TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2790

` `

    C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 001179

    SIPDIS

    SIPDIS

    EUR/WE FOR ALLEGRONE, CLEMENTS, AND CERVETTI
    WHA/CCA FOR RIOS

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/14/2017
    TAGS: PREL SP CU
    SUBJECT: SPAIN/CUBA: LIBERTAD ACT, TITLE III

    REF: STATE 65523

    Classified By: DCM Hugo Llorens for reason 1.4(d).

    ¶1. (C) Spain is believed to be the largest foreign investor
    in Cuba, though Spanish companies avoid publishing precise
    data out of concern that such information will be used to
    further U.S. enforcement actions under the Libertad Act.
    Cuba is the third-largest market for Spain in Latin America,
    after Mexico and Brazil, and Spanish exports to Cuba in 2006
    were valued at 692 million euros, up from 489 million euros
    in 2005. Spain is also Cuba's second-largest supplier of
    non-petroleum goods, accounting for approximately 13 percent
    of Cuban imports. However, the Zapatero government has not
    reinstated the provision of risk insurance through the
    "Spanish Credit Insurance Company" (CESCE) for sales to and
    investments in Cuba; CESCE suspended insurance for Cuba due
    to delays in Cuba's repayment of $600 million in debts.
    Spanish analysts believe two-way trade between Spain and Cuba
    would increase by $200 million if CESCE resumed insurance
    coverage for business deals with Cuba.

    ¶2. (C) Although there is no indication that CESCE insurance
    will be resumed in the near future, both Spanish businesses
    and the Spanish government believe Spain has important
    long-term commercial interests in Cuba. This perception,
    combined with strong cultural and family bonds between Spain
    and Cuba, limits Spain's readiness to confront the Castro
    regime. There is also broad-based Spanish antagonism towards
    the Libertad Act and other Cuba sanctions. This antagonism
    cuts across party lines; both the ruling Socialist Party and
    the opposition Popular Party would likely seek retaliatory
    action by the EU in the event of an enforcement action
    against a Spanish Company under the Libertad Act.

    //MEDIA COVERAGE OF EFFECTS OF U.S. CUBA SANCTIONS//

    ¶3. (C) Spanish media have covered the complications resulting
    from the purchase by U.S. companies of Spanish tourism
    ventures with significant involvement in Cuba. Spanish
    companies send about 250,000 travelers to Cuba on an annual
    basis, of whom approximately 192,000 are Spanish citizens.
    Affected Spanish companies include "Iberostar" (now
    "Orizonia"), in which the Carlyle Group purchased a 60
    percent stake. Orizonia controls several travel agencies
    that, prior to U.S. investment, offered many travel packages
    to Cuban destinations. The Spanish cruise company
    "Pullmantur" reportedly shifted its base of Caribbean
    operations from Havana to Puerto La Romana in the Dominican
    Republic after being purchased by Royal Caribbean. Also,
    Boston-based TA Associates recently acquired the Spanish
    company "eDreams," Spain's country's largest internet-based
    travel agency, which will presumably make it impossible for
    eDreams to continue booking travel to Cuba.

    //RESPONSES TO NSC TASKING//

    ¶4. (C) Responses below are keyed to questions posed in
    reftel, paragraph 5:

    What is the nature of Spanish investments in Cuba?:

    - The "Association of Spanish Companies in Cuba" (AEEC)
    represents over 170 Spanish businesses that trade with or
    invest in Cuba. Spanish companies, mostly small and medium
    sized businesses, account for approximately 25 percent of
    foreign investment in Cuba. These companies are well aware
    of the potential for U.S. legal action against them under the
    Libertad Act and are careful to obscure information related
    to their investments in Cuba. Spanish companies are
    particularly active in tobacco, hotels and tourism,
    foodstuffs, construction, and light manufacturing. The
    following information describes the major Spanish investments
    in Cuba:

    -- Grupo Altadis: Tobacco. Unspecified location. Investment
    amount unknown, but believed to represent the single largest
    Spanish investment in Cuba. According to news reports, Cuba
    sold 160 million cigars in 2005 through Altadis, mostly to
    Spain and other EU countries, accounting for approximately
    $350 million in sales.

    -- Grupo Sol Melia: Hotel/Tourism. Sol Melia has 21
    locations in Cuba, including in Havana, Varadero, Cayo Largo,
    Cayo Santa Maria, Ciego de Avila, Cayo Largo del Sur, Cayo
    Guillermo, Playa Esmeralda, and Santiago de Cuba. The
    company announced plans to open a new 925-room hotel Cayo
    Santa Maria in 2006. The total investment amount is unknown,
    but Sol Melia invested at least $50 million in Cuba during
    2004-2005. Sol Melia is the largest foreign hotel chain in
    Cuba, managing nearly 6,000 rooms.

    -- Repsol YPF: Energy. Investments in Cuban territorial
    waters. According to press reports, total Repsol investment
    is $25-40 million.

    -- Barcelo: Hotel/Tourism. Investments in Varadero, Cayo
    Largo del Sur, and Cayo Coco. Investment amount unknown.

    -- Inversiones Ibersuiza: Commercial investment. Investments
    in Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba. According to press
    reports, Inversiones Ibersuiza has invested a total of $150
    million in various Cuban projects.

    -- Occidental Hotels and Resorts: Hotel/Tourism. Investments
    in Havana and Playa Yuraguanal. Investment amount unknown.

    -- Grupo Pinero: Hotel/Tourism. Investment in Varadero.
    Investment of at least $2 million according to press reports.

    -- Iberostar: Hotel/Tourism. Investments in Varadero, Cayo
    Coco, and Trinidad. Investment amount unknown.

    -- NH Hoteles: Hotel/Tourism. Investments in Havana.
    Investment amount unknown.

    -- Grupo Riu: Hotel/Tourism. Location in Varadero.
    Investment amount unknown.

    -- Hotetur: Hotel/Tourism. Investments in Varadero and
    Havana. Investment amount unknown.

    -- Aguas de Barcelona: Utility. Investment in Havana in
    joint venture with Aguas de La Habana. Initial investment of
    $2 million in 2002, subsequent investment amounts unknown.
    Press reports indicate that Aguas de Barcelona is considering
    selling its Cuba operations as part of the company's general
    withdrawal from small markets in Latin America.

    -- Grupo Freixenet: Alcoholic Beverages. Unspecified
    location.

    -- Iberia Airlines: Transportation. Investment in Varadero.
    Investment amount unknown.

    In addition, Spanish energy company Iberdrola has previously
    undertaken projects in Cuba to refurbish power plants. Also
    Spanish banks Banesto and BBVA have financed construction of
    hotels and other investments in Cuba. We have no information
    regarding current operations in Cuba by these companies.

    ¶5. (C) - Are there any bilateral trade agreements between
    Spain and Cuba?:

    There is a bilateral "Commission on Economic-Industrial
    Cooperation" between Spain and Cuba that is intended to
    promote bilateral trade and investment. The work of the
    Commission has been suspended for several years due to
    disputes over Cuba's non-payment of debt to Spanish entities
    and other differences.

    ¶6. (C) - Are there any exchange programs between Spain and
    Cuba?:

    -- During the visit of Spanish FM Moratinos to Cuba in April
    2007 Spain and Cuba agreed to the resumption of Spanish
    development aid to Cuba. This assistance had been
    unilaterally suspended by Cuba following Spain's criticism of
    the 2003 Cuban crackdown on human rights activists. Over 90
    percent of Spanish development assistance to Cuba comes from
    regional governments, with less than 10 percent provided by
    the central government. Such assistance is channeled
    primarily through the Cuban government, and to a lesser
    degree through multilateral aid organizations.

    ¶7. (C) - Has Spain worked to promote the advancement of
    democracy and human rights in Cuba?:

    -- Spain, like the U.S., supports democratic objectives in
    Cuba, but, unlike the U.S., believes that direct engagement
    with the authorities as well as with civil society will lead
    to more positive results in the island. Spain's view is
    conditioned by the experience of its own democratic
    transition (which took place over more than five years). It
    is concerned that a rapid transition to democracy may lead to
    instability and violence. As a result, Spain is focused on
    building relationships with potential successors to Castro,
    believing Spain will be able to steer them in a positive
    direction after Castro's death. This outlook limits Spain's
    willingness to take a tough stand against the Castro regime.
    -- Within the EU, Spain is unlikely to deviate from its
    support for continued engagement with the Cuban government.
    The Embassy, in coordination with the Department, has called
    on Spanish officials to work with its EU partners to issue a
    statement promoting democratic reforms in Cuba, in light of
    the developing situation there. We have received mixed
    signals in response to this request, since some Spanish
    officials argue that it is more important to preserve
    communication with Castro's likely successors than it is to
    pressure them now for immediate changes.

    ¶8. (C) - Have there been any high level visits by Spanish
    officials to Cuba in the past six months?:

    -- Spanish FM Miguel Angel Moratinos visited Cuba April 1-3
    for meetings with Cuban Vice President Raul Castro, FM Felipe
    Perez Roque, and other members of the Cuban leadership. The
    visit triggered criticism by Cuban human rights activists and
    by opposition political parties in Spain, and intensified the
    internal divide in the EU over Cuba policy.
    AGUIRRE

`