Cablegate: New Zealand Policies and Actions Taken with Regard

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 WELLINGTON 001003

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP/ANP, WHA/CCA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/02/2014
TAGS: ETTC PREL NZ
SUBJECT: NEW ZEALAND POLICIES AND ACTIONS TAKEN WITH REGARD
TO CUBA

REF: A. STATE 248337
B. WELLINGTON 555

Classified By: ECONOMIC OFFICER JOY YAMAMOTO,
FOR REASONS 1.4(B,D)

1. (C) The Government of New Zealand formalized diplomatic
relations with Cuba in 2001, with its Ambassador resident in
Mexico City accredited to Havana. The GoNZ uses meetings
with Cuban officials to express its concern over the human
rights situation in Cuba (ref B), according to Mike Shaw,
Americas Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
This is consistent with the GoNZ's policy of engagement with
states that have poor human rights records. Post is unaware
of any NZ entity or nationals who would be subject to Title
III of the LIBERTAD Act. The GoNZ would strenuously object
to any effort to apply Title III to a NZ national or entity
on extraterritorial grounds. The GoNZ is strongly supportive
of U.S. positions on Cuba's human rights record, and use of
Title III would jeopardize continued good-faith cooperation.

2. (SBU) Economically, Cuba was New Zealand's 45th largest
trading partner in the year ending June 2004, with exports to
Cuba at NZ$61.8 million (USD43.2 million) and imports at
NZ$919,000 (USD643,000). Of these exports, 97 percent were
in the dairy sector, specifically milk powder. Culturally,
ties continue to strengthen. In October, the Cuban
Ambassador to New Zealand, who is resident in Canberra,
hosted a film festival in New Zealand, in response to a New
Zealand film festival held in Havana in February.
Swindells

© Scoop Media