Cablegate: Second Cuban Protest Regarding Mission Security

VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUCNDT #0019 0091528
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 091528Z JAN 08
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3503
INFO RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA PRIORITY 0247

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000019

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR IO/UNP, DS/DSS/DO AND WHA/CCA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OFDP CU UN
SUBJECT: SECOND CUBAN PROTEST REGARDING MISSION SECURITY

REF: USUN 0013

1. Paragraph 2 of reftel describes a December 26, 2007
incident in which a Cuban emigre threw a rock through a glass
door at the Cuban Mission and was subsequently arrested by
the New York Police Department. USUN has received a
diplomatic note dated January 7, 2008 (text follows in
paragraph 2 below) protesting the incident. The note
stresses that the host country will be held responsible for
the December 10 and December 26 incidents and any others that
may follow. The Cuban Mission has called for an emergency
meeting of the UN Committee on Relations with the Host
Country to discuss the recent incidents and the City of New
York's decision to discontinue round the clock police
protection at the Cuban Mission. USUN would appreciate
learning of any update in Department's plans to engage New
York City officials regarding possible re-establishment of
police coverage of the Cuban Mission.

2. BEGIN TEXT OF CUBAN NOTE OF 1/7/08: Complimentary
salutation...and has the honor to inform that on last 26
December 2007 an unidentified person threw a stone against
one of the glass doors of the building where the Mission of
Cuba to the United Nations is located, shattering it.

The Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations
immediately phoned the Liaison of the Diplomatic Security
Service of the Department of State and the New York Police
Department to inform about this action and noticed that this
person remained standing in the doorway of the Mission
shouting insults and insisting that he would not leave that
place until the police came for him. Later the police
arrived and took him to the police station.

The Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations considers
that the unilateral removal of police protection of the Cuban
Mission to the United Nations brings about the commission of
actions like this.

The Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations wishes to
recall its note verbale NV. 6185, 27 November 2007, in which
the Mission of Cuba to the United Nations conveyed its
concern at the measure taken by the Diplomatic Security
Service and the New York Police Department with the removal
of police protection of the Cuban Mission to the United
Nations and stressed the responsibility, regarding the
security of this Mission, that the United States authorities
incur in with this new measure taken.

Complimentary close...End Text
KHALILZAD

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