VIEWS OF CUBAN MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OFFICIALS ON APPOINTMENT OF RAUL ROA KOURI AS CUBAN PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE TO THE UNITED NATIONS IN NEW YORK

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06928842
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: July 13, 2023
• Document Release Date: February 17, 2022
• Case Number: F-2020-02125
• Publication Date: April 6, 1978

FORM
it
OaS1:11.E1E PREVIOUS
DIRECTORATE OF
OPERATIONS
Approved for Release: 2022/02/01 C06928842
A:7
53T (When (When Filled In)
Intelligence Information Cable
WARNING NOTICE
SENSITIVE INTELLIGENCE SOURCES AND METHODS INVOLVED
� ROUTINE
IN 0496704
PAGE 1 OF 7 PAGES
Closuf�oel by Recorded Repelling Officer. Exempt tram General Declassification Schedule at E.G. 11E32 Exemption
Category SB (1). (2). Impossible to Doserenino Dote of Automatic Declassificatien.
FURTHER DISSEMINATION AND USE OF THIS INFORMATION SUBJECT TO
CONTROLS STATED AT BEGINNING AND END OF REPORT.
(b)(3)
5
4
3
2
1
THIS IS AN INFORMATION REPORT, NOT FINALLY EVALUATED INTELLIGENCE
ORT CLASS S
COUNTRY:
SUBJECT:
SOURCE :
CITE
DIST 6 APRIL 1978
T-WNINTEL-NOFORN-NOCONTRACT-ORCON
CUBA
VIEWS OF CUBAN MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OFFICIALS ON
APPOINTMENT OF RAUL ROA KOURI AS CUBAN PERMANENT REPRE-
SENTATIVE TO THE UNITED NATIONS IN NEW YORK
SUMMARY: MOST OFFICIALS OF THE CUBAN MINISTRY OF FOREIGN
AFFAIRS APPROVE OF THE APPOINTMENT OF RAUL ROA OURI AS CUBAN PERMA-
NENT REPRESENTATIVE TO THE UNITED NATIONS IN NEW YORK. CARLOS
RAFAEL RODRIGUEZ, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL OF STATE AND COUN-
CIL OF MINISTERS PERSONALLY RECOMMENDED ROA FOR THE ASSIGNMENT. ROA
WORKED WITH RODRIGUEZ ON UNITED NATIONS MATTERS, HE IS A LINGUIST,
HAS LIVED IN NEW YORK PREVIOUSLY, AND HAS EXPERIENCE AS AN AMBASSA-
DOR HAVING SERVED IN THAT CAPACITY IN BRAZIL AND CZECHOSLOVAKIA.
s#ET
feassilweirfet
(b)(3)
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
5
3
2
1
Approved for Release: 2022/02/01 C06928842
Approved for Release: 2022/02/01 C06928842
FORM 3413 Use Previous
10-75 Editions
. SECRET
(elassineation)
SECRET (When Filled In)
WARNING NOTICE
SENSITIVE INTELLIGENCE SOURCES AND METHODS INVOLVED
IN 0496704
PAGE 2 OF 7 PAGES
FURTHER DISSEMINATION AND USE OF THIS INFORMATION SUBJECT TO
CONTROLS STATED AT BEGINNING AND END OF REPORT.
ROA HAS AN ENGAGING PERSONALITY AND REFLECTS, IN THE OPINION OF
MANY CUBAN OFFICIALS, THE TYPICAL SPIRIT, THE CUBAN MALE IDEAL,
INTELLIGENT AND ONE WHO ENJOYS A GOOD TIME BUT GENERALLY OBSERVES
REVOLUTIONARY DISCIPLINE. CUBA'S STAND ON PUERTO RICAN INDEPEN-
DENCE WILL NOT CHANGE UNDER ROA. JOSE ARUZU, AN OFFICIAL OF THE
AMERICA DEPARTMENT OF THE CUBAN COMMUNIST PARTY, HAS BEEN NOMI-
NATED TO BE ROA'S DEPUTY IN NEW YORK AND HE IS WELL ACQUAINTED
WITH THE PUERTO RICAN MOVEMENT LEADERS IN NEW YORK. END SUMMARY.
I. MOST OFFICIALS OF THE CUBAN MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
(MFA) APPROVE OF THE APPOINTMENT OF RAUL R 0 A KOURI, SON OF
FORMER MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, RAUL R q A GARCIA, AS CUBAN
PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE TO THE UNITED NATIONS IN NEW YORK. AL-
THOUGH MANY QUESTIONS REMAIN TO BE ANSWERED AS TO WHY HE RECEIVED
THE ASSIGNMENT-, IT IS NOTED THAT CARLOS RAFAEL RODRIGUE Z,
VICE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL OF STATE AND COUNCIL OF MINISTERS,
PERSONALLY RECOMMENDED HIM FOR THE POST. THIS REMARK WAS NOTED
IN THE NOMINATING DOCUMENT AND PROBABLY HELPED ROA KOURI RECEIVE
CONFIRMATION FROM THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF CUBA (PCC) POLITBURO.
2. MFA OFFICIALS NOTE THAT ROA KOURI WORKED WITH RODRIGUEZ
5
4 IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO HIS APPOINTMENT. RODRIGUEZ WAS WELL SATIS-
3
2
1
'SECRET
Altt_�.4 .MnertirwaS I �44..orm or������=wi�et
Approved for Release: 2022/02/01 C06928842
Approved for Release: 2022/02/01 C06928842
ruktm 3413 Use Previous
10-75 Editions
. SECRET
(classification)
SECRET (When Fined In)
WARNING NOTICE
SENSITIVE INTELLIGENCE SOURCES AND METHODS INVOLVED
IN 0496704
PAGE 3 OF 7 PAGES
FURTHER DISSEMINATION AND USE OF THIS INFORMATION SUBJECT TO
CONTROLS STATED AT BEGINNING AND END OF REPORT.
FIED WITH ROA KOURI'S WORK AND PRAISED HIM. THERE ARE SOME IN
THE MFA WHO NOTE THAT RODRIGUEZ MAY BE ATTEMPTING TO MEND FENCES
WITH ROA GARCIA, AS IT WAS RODRIGUEZ WHO WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN RE-
MOVING ROA GARCIA FROM THE POST OF FOREIGN MINISTER IN LATE 1976.
ROA GARCIA WAS DEEPLY HURT AND CRITICIZED RODRIGUEZ FOR HIS AC-
TIONS. RODRIGUEZ DOES NOT REGRET REMOVING ROA GARCIA FROM THE
POST OF FOREIGN MINISTER; HOWEVER, HE SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN IMPRESSED
BY THE SPONTANEOUS OUTPOURING OF RESPECT FOR ROA GARCIA LAST YEAR
WHEN HE WAS EULOGIZED REPEATEDLY AND HONORED AT A NUMBER OF SOCIAL
FUNCTIONS ON THE OCCASION OF HIS SEVENTIETH BIRTHDAY. RODRIGUEZ
WAS SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT ROA GARCIA WAS SINCERELY LIKED AND
RESPECTED BY SO MANY. CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL C A ST R 0 HIM-
SELF EULOGIZED ROA GARCIA AND RODRIGUEZ ALSO WROTE AN ARTICLE
PRAISING HIM.
3. ROA KOURI POSSESSES VALUABLE ASSETS WHICH QUALIFY HIM
FOR HIS NEW POST. HE WORKED FOR RODRIGUEZ ON UNITED NATIONS MAT-
TERS AND ACTED AS AN ADVISER TO RODRIGUEZ. HE IS A LINGUIST AND
SPEAKS ENGLISH, FRENCH, RUSSIAN, CZECH, AND PORTUGUESE. HE HAS
5 A GOOD KNOWLEDGE OF NEW YORK, HAVING ATTENDED COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
4
AND HAVING PREVIOUSLY SERVED IN NEW YORK. HE HAS EXPERIENCE HAV-
3
2
1
� SECRET
(classification) ((Lissem controls)
Approved for Release: 2022/02/01 C06928842
Approved for Release: 2022/02/01 C06928842
FORM 3413 Use Previous
10-75 Editions
. SECRET
(classification)
SECRET (When Filled In)
WARNING NOTICE
SENSITIVE INTELLIGENCE SOURCES AND METHODS INVOLVED
IN 0496704
PAGE 4 oF 7 PAGES
FURTHER DISSEMINATION AND USE OF THIS INFORMATION SUBJECT TO
CONTROLS STATED AT BEGINNING AND END OF REPORT.
ING SERVED AS AMBASSADOR TO BRAZIL AND CZECHOSLOVAKIA AND HAS A
GOOD WORKING KNOWLEDGE OF THE UN AS A RESULT OF HIS JOB WITH
RODRIGUEZ.
4. WITH ROA KOURI'S APPOINTMENT, RODRIGUEZ IS ASSURED OF
A MAN IN NEW YORK WHO WILL RESPOND TO HIM AND WHO IN LARGE MEA-
SURE WILL OWE HIS POSITION TO RODRIGUEZ. IT IS KNOWN IN THE MFA
THAT CUBAN FOREIGN MINISTER ISIDORO MALMIERCA PEOLI
a LOS
FIRST PROPOSED ALDANA( AN OFFICIAL OF THE PCC SECRE-
TARIAT, FOR THE POST. ALDANA, HOWEVER, HAS NO EXPERIENCE IN
FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND SPEAKS NO LANGUAGES. HE IS ALSO A MOROSE AND
ILL-HUMORED INDIVIDUAL.
5. ROA KOURI IS NOT A MEMBER OF CUBAN INTELLIGENCE; AS
THERE IS CONSIDERABLE FRICTION BETWEEN THE MFA AND CUBAN INTELLI-
GENCE, THIS IS ANOTHER FACTOR IN HIS FAVOR. MFA OFFICIALS NOTE
THAT EVEN RODRIGUEZ HAS HAD DIFFICULTY WITH CUBAN INTELLIGENCE.
ROA KOURI ALSO GETS ALONG WELL WITH THE SOVIETS, WITH WHOM HE
WILL HAVE CLOSE CONTACT IN THE UNITED NATIONS.
6. MOST CUBANS WHO HAVE LEARNED OF ROA KOURI'S APPOINT-
5
4
3
2.
1
� SECRET
MENT HAVE REACTED FAVORABLY AS ROA IS A POPULAR FIGURE. SOME
OF THIS IS A RESULT OF HIS FATHER'S POPULARITY: HOWEVER, HE HIM-
(classification) (dissent controls)
5
4
3
2
1
(b)(3)
Approved for Release: 2022/02/01 C06928842
Approved for Release: 2022/02/01 C06928842
P&L's; Use Previous
10-'75 - 34.13 Editions
. SECRET
(classification)
SIECET7When Filled In)
WARNING NOTICE
SENSITIVE INTELLIGENCE SOURCES AND METHODS INVOLVED
IN 0 4 9 6 70 4
PAGES OF 7 PAWS
FURTHER DISSEMINATION AND USE OF THIS INFORMATION SUBJECT TO
CONTROLS STATED Al BEGINNING AND END OF REPORT.
(b)(3)
SELF HAS AN ENGAGING PERSONALITY AND MANNER THAT GAINS HIM
MANY FRIENDS. HE IS CORDIAL, OUTGOING, AND COURTEOUS AND WAS
ABLE TO RETAIN THE FRIENDSHIP OF THOSE WHO DISLIKED HIS FATHER.
ROA KOURI IS INTELLIGENT AND EXPRESSES HIMSELF WELL. HE IS
ALSO AN EXCELLENT MIXER, PARTICULARLY AT SOCIAL GATHERINGS. HE
LIKES PARTIES AND ENJOYS PLAYING A NUMBER OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS,
INCLUDING THE PIANO, GUITAR AND SAXOPHONE. HE ARRIVES AT WORK
EARLY EVEN THE MORNING AFTER A LATE NIGHT. HIS ENGAGING PERSON-
ALITY REFLECTS TO MANY CUBAN OFFICIALS THE TYPICAL SPIRIT, THE
CUBAN MALE IDEAL, INTELLIGENT AND ONE WHO ENJOYS A GOOD TIME BUT
STILL GENERALLY OBSERVES REVOLUTIONARY DISCIPLINE. CASTRO HAS
FORGIVEN HIM HIS PAST TRANSGRESSIONS AND SHORTCOMINGS AND ADMIRES
HIM FOR TAKING HIS PUNISHMENT WELL. HE SERVED HIS TIME IN ONE OF
THE MOST DIFFICULT MILITARY UNITS.
7. ROA KOURI IS A "LADIES MAN" IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD,
/17/4)e..1,4 ate le-, IIN6e-tos ODR-IGu4-z_ Dorn,4/64-.2_
BUT HE RECENTLY MARRIED HIS THIRD WIFE AND SEEMS, AT PRESENT, TO
BE THOROUGHLY IN LOVE WITH HER. SOME MFA OFFICIALS WONDER IF HIS
WIFE, A PLEASANT YOUNG WOMAN, IS SUITED TO ACT AS AN AMBASSADOR'S
WIFE. SHE IS THE SISTER OF SILVIO RODRIGUEZ, THE FAMOUS
5 5
4 CUBAN PIANIST AND COMPOSER. 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
SECRET
CLASSCatiOn1 rittimest ntsrpornbet
Approved for Release: 2022/02/01 C06928842
 Approved for Release: 2022/02/01 C06928842
FoRm ,41 3 Use Previous
10-75 Editions
. SECRET
(classification)
SECRET (When Filled In)
WARNING NOTICE
SENSITIVE INTELLIGENCE SOURCES AND METHODS INVOLVED
IN 0496704
PAGE 6 OF 7 PAGES
FURTHER DISSEMINATION AND USE OF THIS INFORMATION SUBJECT TO
CONTROLS STATED AT BEGINNING AND END OF REPORT.
8. CUBAN LEADERS WOULD TOLERATE MUCH FROM ROA KOURI AND
ANY SHORTCOMINGS WOULD PROBABLY BE OVERLOOKED. HE IS VERY OPEN
ABOUT HIS WEAKNESS FOR WOMEN AND GOOD TIMES. UNLIKE RICARDO
ALARCON DE QUESADA, WHOM HE WILL REPLACE IN NEW YORK, HE
WILL TEND TO SOCIALIZE MORE. ALARCON IS STIFF AND UNFRIENDLY
EVEN WITH MEMBERS OF HIS OWN STAFF.
9. CUBA'S STAND ON PUERTO RICAN INDEPENDENCE WILL NOT
CHANGE AS ROA KOURI WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT PUERTO RICAN INDE-
PENDENCE, A MAJOR POLICY ISSUE IN CUBA. THE NUMBER-TWO MAN IN
THE CUBAN MISSION TO THE UNITED NATIONS IN NEW YORK UNDER ROA
KOURI WILL BE JOSE ARBEZU, AN OFFICIAL OF THE UNITED
STATES SECTION OF THE AMERICA DEPARTMENT OF THE FCC. IF ARBEZU
RECEIVES THIS POSITION, AS EXPECTED, CUBA WILL BE REPRESENTED IN
NEW YORK BY AN OFFICIAL WELL ACQUAINTED WITH THE PUERTO RICAN
INDEPENDENCE MOVEMENT LEADERS IN NEW YORK.
10. ALARCON SEEMS TO BE SATISFIED WITH HIS NEW POST, WHICH
IS A PROMOTION FOR HIM. HE WILL BECOME DIRECTOR OF PLANNING FOR
INTERNATIONAL POLICY IN THE MFA AND WILL HAVE VICE MINISTER STA-
TUS. MORE IMPORTANTLY, HE IS SCHEDULED TO BECOME A KEY OFFICIAL
4
WITH REGARD TO NON-ALIGNED MOVEMENT MATTERS. HE IS SCHEDULED TO
3
2 �
1
SECRET
Approved for Release: 2022/02/01 C06928842
Approved for Release: 2022/02/01 C06928842
j.k �
� 1111 3413 Use Previous
.e0-7a Editions
. SECRET
(claarificatient)
�SECRET (When Filled in)
WARNING NOTICE
SENSITIVE INTELLIGENCE SOURCES AND METHODS INVOLVED
IN 0496704
PAGE7 OF 7PAGES
FURTHER DISSEMINATION AND USE OF THIS INFORMATION SUBJECT TO
CONTROLS STATED AT BEGINNING AND END OF REPORT.
� BEGIN A SERIES OF TRIPS RELATED TO THE NON-ALIGNED MOVEMENT, IN-
CLUDING ONE TO YUGOSLAVIA, SHORTLY AFTER HE LEAVES HIS PRESENT
POST IN APRIL.
11. ROA KOURI'S ABSENCE FROM THE MFA FOR SOME TIME HAS
CAUSED SOME OF THE CLOSE FRIENDSHIPS AMONG MFA OFFICIALS TO LAPSE.
HOWEVER, OF SIGNIFICANCE IS HIS VERY CLOSE FRIENDSHIP WITH MFA
VICE MINISTER JOSE VIERA LINARES. THEY ARE SEEN TOGETHER
OFTEN. ANOTHER CLOSE FRIEND IS ROGELIO MONTENEGR 0,
WHO REPLACED ROA KOURI IN HIS FORMER POSITION AS CUBAN REPRESEN-
� TATIVE TO THE COUNCIL OF MUTUAL ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE (COMECON);
MONTENEGRO ALSO WORKED FOR RODRIGUEZ AT ONE TIME AND WAS PRIVATE
SECRETARY TO ROA GARCIA IN THE PAST.
5
4
3
2
1
� SECRET
12.
13.
REPORT CLASS SECRET-WARNING NOTICE-SENSITIVE INTELLIGENCE SOURCES
AND METHODS INVOLVED-NOT RELEASABLE TO FOREIGN NATIONALS-NOT RE-
LEASABLE TO CONTRACTORS OR CONTRACTOR/CONSULTANTS-DISSEMINATION
AND EXTRACTION OF INFORMATION CONTROLLED BY ORIGINATOR. CLASSI-
FIED BY RECORDED REPORTING OFFICER. XGDS-2.
�� .,04.������14�11.4
Approved for Release: 2022/02/01 C06928842