DATE=3/12/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-228064
TITLE=U-S/CUBA SANCTIONS (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=BILL RODGERS
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: SOME U-S LAWMAKERS ARE CRITICIZING THE CLINTON
ADMINISTRATION FOR NOT FULLY IMPLEMENTING A LAW AIMED AT
TIGHTENING ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AGAINST CUBA. THE CRITICISM CAME
AT A CONGRESSIONAL HEARING THURSDAY TIMED TO COINCIDE WITH THE
SECOND ANNIVERSARY OF THE LAW KNOWN AS HELMS-BURTON AFTER THE
NAMES OF ITS CONGRESSIONAL SPONSORS. V-O-A'S BILL RODGERS
REPORTS.
TEXT: PRESIDENT CLINTON SIGNED THE HELMS-BURTON LAW TWO YEARS
AGO IN RESPONSE TO THE FEBRUARY 1996 SHOOTDOWN OF TWO SMALL
CIVILIAN PLANES BY CUBAN JET FIGHTERS OVER INTERNATIONAL WATERS.
THE LAW FURTHER TIGHTENS THE DECADES-LONG U-S ECONOMIC EMBARGO
AGAINST CUBA BY IMPOSING SANCTIONS AGAINST FOREIGN COMPANIES THAT
INVEST IN U-S ASSETS CONFISCATED BY CUBA'S COMMUNIST GOVERNMENT.
ONE OF THE LAW'S MOST CONTROVERSIAL PROVISIONS, KNOWN AS TITLE
THREE, ALLOWS U-S CITIZENS TO SUE THESE COMPANIES -- A MEASURE
THAT HAS AROUSED STRONG CONDEMNATION IN EUROPE AND LATIN AMERICA
WHO CONSIDER IT A BREACH OF INTERNATIONAL LAW.
HOWEVER, PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS NEVER IMPLEMENTED TITLE THREE --
AND HAS SIGNED WAIVERS EVERY SIX MONTHS AS PART OF A STRATEGY TO
ENLIST THE EUROPEAN UNION TO DO MORE TO PROMOTE DEMOCRACY AND
HUMAN RIGHTS IN CUBA.
IT IS THESE WAIVERS -- AND WHAT SOME CONGRESSMEN CONSIDER A
GENERALLY TEPID ENFORCEMENT OF HELMS-BURTON -- THAT PROVOKED
SHARP CRITICISM AT A CONGRESSIONAL HEARING THURSDAY ON THE
MEASURE'S TWO-YEAR ANNIVERSARY. THE COMMENTS OF DEMOCRATIC
CONGRESSMAN ROBERT MENENDEZ WERE TYPICAL.
///MENENDEZ ACT///
I REALLY THINK THE ADMINISTRATION IS DRAGGING ITS FEET.
AT THIS POINT I HAD DIFFERENT EXPECTATIONS AS ONE OF
THOSE WHO NEGOTIATED THIS AGREEMENT, AND AS A DEMOCRAT I
HONESTLY DO NOT BELIEVE THE ADMINISTRATION IS NOW
COMMITTED TO MOVING FORWARD AND WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO
MAINTAIN THE STATUS QUO, WHICH IS NOTHING.
//END ACT///
THE STATE DEPARTMENT'S POINT MAN ON CUBA, MICHAEL RANNEBERGER,
DISPUTED THIS -- TELLING THE CONGRESSIONAL PANEL THE CLINTON
ADMINISTRATION IS COMMITTED TO ENFORCING HELMS-BURTON. WHILE
ACKNOWLEDGING THERE HAS BEEN STRONG INTERNATIONAL OPPOSITION TO
THE LAW, MR. RANNEBERGER SAID SUSPENDING THE TITLE THREE
PROVISION HAS PERSUADED EUROPE TO PUT MORE PRESSURE ON CUBA.
///RANNEBERGER ACT///
WE HAVE CHANGED THE TERMS OF THE DEBATE ON CUBA BY USING
THE WAIVER. WE'VE GOTTEN THE ATTENTION OF THE EUROPEANS
AND OTHERS ON THIS AND WE'VE CERTAINLY SEEN, SINCE THE
FIRST WAIVER, INCREASED PUBLIC PROFILE OF THE EUROPEANS
ON THE ISSUE OF DEMOCRACY IN CUBA. THAT'S NOT TO SAY
THAT IN THE PAST THEY DID NOT CARE ABOUT DEMOCRACY AND
HUMAN RIGHTS IN CUBA, THEY DID. BUT IT IS TO SAY THEIR
ACTIONS HAVE BEEN HIGHER PROFILE AND THEY'VE BEEN
STRONGER.
///END ACT///
BUT CONGRESSMAN MENENDEZ AND OTHERS MAINTAIN THE EUROPEAN NATIONS
ARE NOT DOING ENOUGH.
HOWEVER, NOT ALL THE LAWMAKERS ATTENDING THURSDAY'S HEARING OF
THE HOUSE (OF REPRESENTATIVES) SUBCOMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL
TRADE SUPPORT HELMS-BURTON. DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN SAM GEJDENSON
SPOKE OUT STRONGLY AGAINST THE LAW -- AND THE U-S ECONOMIC
EMBARGO IN GENERAL -- SAYING THESE SANCTIONS WILL NOT BRING
DEMOCRATIC CHANGE TO CUBA. HOWEVER, IN COMMENTS TO REPORTERS AT
THE HEARING, MR. RANNEBERGER SAID THERE WILL BE NO CHANGE IN THE
U-S EMBARGO POLICY. (SIGNED)
NEB/WFR/PT
12-Mar-98 6:17 PM EST (2317 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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