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19 January 1999

TEXT: EIZENSTAT STATEMENT ON CUBA SANCTIONS

(President Clinton again suspends Title III provisions)  (1600)
WASHINGTON -- President Clinton has again suspended certain provisions
of the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act on the
grounds that doing so will serve the U.S. national interest and
"hasten a peaceful transition to democracy in Cuba," Under Secretary
of State Stuart Eizenstat said in a January 16 statement.
Under Clinton's order, the United States will suspend for an
additional six months the Title III provisions of the Act that allow
U.S. nationals with interests in confiscated property in Cuba to file
suit.
Eizenstat cited evidence of progress towards the long-standing U.S.
goal of generating multilateral pressure on behalf of democratic
forces in Cuba, and listed numerous examples of foreign leaders
expressing concern over the human rights situation in Cuba. He
described it as a "crucial and important pattern that has emerged"
over the past few months.
"Now, throughout the world, leaders and individuals from every sector
are expressing concern that the Cuban government continues to deny
basic rights to the Cuban people," Eizenstat said.
Following is the text of his statement:
(begin text)
THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
January 16, 1999
STATEMENT BY AMBASSADOR STUART E. EIZENSTAT UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE
FOR ECONOMIC, BUSINESS, AND AGRICULTURAL AFFAIRS
SUSPENSION OF TITLE III LAWSUIT PROVISIONS OF THE CUBAN LIBERTY AND
DEMOCRATIC SOLIDARITY ACT
The President has announced his decision to again exercise the
authority granted under the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity
(LIBERTAD) Act to suspend for an additional six months the Title III
law suit provisions of the Act. The President made this decision
because it is in the national interest and will hasten a peaceful
transition to democracy in Cuba. As in the past, the President took
into consideration the important steps taken by our allies to promote
democracy and human rights in Cuba.
As the President noted, I have had the honor of working since 1996 to
build a new, historic, multilateral effort to promote democracy and
human rights in Cuba. Under the leadership of the President and the
Secretary of State, we have continued our efforts to encourage other
nations, especially in Europe and Latin America, to take specific,
concrete steps based on their expressed commitment to human rights and
democracy in Cuba. These efforts have resulted in new international
attention to the plight of the Cuban people.
The President noted a crucial and important pattern that has emerged
in recent months. Leaders from around the world, including the United
Kingdom, Spain, and Japan, have 1) raised the issues of human rights
and democracy directly in their discussions with Cuban government
officials; 2) visited with dissidents in Cuba; and 3) spoken out
publicly in Cuba in support of human rights and democracy.
Through these visits and other actions, the Castro government is
hearing a consistent, sincere, thoughtful message that it must pay
attention to the aspirations of its own people to be free, to live
normal lives without fear of repression, to govern themselves, and to
have the right and opportunity to reap the rewards of their own labor.
The Cuban government is hearing the message at every turn that there
must be peaceful democratic change. In explaining their votes at the
UN General Assembly in support of the Cuban government's resolution
opposing the U.S. embargo, many nations made clear their great concern
about the Cuban government's human rights record. For example,
Austria, speaking for the entire European Union, urged "a process of
transition to pluralistic democracy, the respect for human rights and
fundamental freedoms," and deplored the "detention of a considerable
number of people, including the four leading members of the Internal
Dissidence Working Group, who have exercised in a non-violent manner
their rights to freedom of expression and association."
At the UN's Third Committee dealing with human rights during the UNGA,
several nations spoke out on the human rights situation in Cuba.
Austria, as EU President, said, "the EU continues to seek to encourage
a process of peaceful transition in Cuba toward democratic pluralism
and a multiparty system, respect for human rights, and fundamental
freedoms..." Australia said, "We continue to be concerned about the
condition of persons detained for activities of a political nature,"
Canada noted, " the continued existence of prisoners of conscience,
particularly the four arrested in July 1997, and the failure to
protect and promote freedom of expression, and civil and political
rights in general..."
Other nations have taken steps to support democratic change and human
rights in Cuba. In October, the President of Honduras told the press
his nation would not establish formal diplomatic relations with Cuba
until it has seen how the democratic process develops there. Czech
President Vaclav Havel lamented that the Cuban government had not
permitted Elizardo Sanchez, a Cuban human rights activist, to attend
the Prague conference on globalization and human rights. Havel sent
public greetings to Sanchez.
At the Ibero-American Summit in Oporto, Portugal, in October, the
Presidents of Costa Rica and Nicaragua lamented that Cuba had made
little progress in living up to the commitments to democracy and the
rule of law it had made in previous Ibero-American Summits.
On December 7, the European Union renewed for an additional six months
its Common Position on Cuba. The EU statement said that "full
cooperation with Cuba will depend on an improvement of the situation
regarding human rights and fundamental freedoms," and called for "...
a peaceful transition to pluralist democracy, the respect for human
rights and fundamental freedoms...." Also, the Senior Level Group
report to the December 18 U.S.-EU Summit cited U.S. and EU efforts to
promote human rights and a "peaceful transition to democracy in Cuba"
as a priority for the next six months of U.S.-EU diplomatic
cooperation.
There have been significant steps among non-governmental groups and in
the private sector. On November 5, the President of the Canadian Human
Rights met with dissidents in Havana. The group included the wife of
Vladamiro Roca, one of the four imprisoned members of the dissidents
working group.
On November 16 in Madrid, an assembly of the International Christian
Democratic movement unanimously approved steps to "stimulate and
fortify the internal dissident movement" in Cuba. Christian Democratic
leaders read a letter from Oswaldo Paya, a leading Cuban dissident,
who called for a "fight for peaceful change," and noted the Cuban
government -- his government -- would not permit him to attend the
meeting.
In November, the Confederation of Latin-American Workers, a key
grouping of 52 labor organizations, passed a resolution in support of
independent labor in Cuba and asking Castro to begin a transformation
to democracy. On December 3, Human Rights Watch released its 1999
World Report, citing continuing human rights abuses in Cuba.
On December 3, a major "round table meeting" of European NGO's,
academics, and labor took place, organized by Pax Christi. It
discussed "Foreign Investments in Cuba and Human and Labor Rights."
The meeting noted the "dictatorship that characterizes Cuba, ... the
widespread repressive state security system, the absence of rule of
law and violations of human rights." The meeting endorsed the
promotion of best business practices, such as the Arcos principles and
those developed by the North American Committee (NAC). The North
American Committee, affiliated with the National Policy Association
(NPA), participated in the conference and advanced its efforts to
establish an international working group to promote best business
practices in Cuba.
On December 9, Pax Christi sent an "open letter" to the International
Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) and the World Confederation
of Labor (WCL) telling them of developments at the December 3 meeting
and urging them to meet with and support independent trade unions in
Cuba during their scheduled visits to Cuba.
The Transatlantic Business Dialogue November 6-7 reaffirmed its
support of international "best business practices," including in Cuba.
The "Statement of Conclusions" called on "all companies doing business
internationally to adhere voluntarily to internationally recognized
principles and global best business practices..." The European cochair
of the "Business Facilitation" group noted the application of this
concept to Cuba and other nations.
Since 1996, I have actively and personally encouraged the effort to
promote voluntary best business practices in Cuba. I am very pleased
with the efforts of the National Policy Association and others in the
international community working on this issue.
In conclusion, we continue to make significant progress in the
President's initiative to develop a multilateral, multi-faceted
movement to promote democracy and human rights in Cuba. Prior to this
effort, much of the international community ignored or was
considerably less vocal about Cuba's human rights abuses. Now,
throughout the world, leaders and individuals from every sector are
expressing concern that the Cuban government continues to deny basic
rights to the Cuban people. I consistently raise the profile of the
issue of greater international support for human rights and democracy
in Cuba in my meetings with European and Latin American officials,
business, and NGO groups.
This progress could not have been achieved without the deep, personal
commitment of the Secretary of State. Secretary Albright is truly
committed to peaceful efforts to bring to Cuba the liberty the Cuban
people have sought for so long. We also recognize the value of our
close cooperation and consultation with Congress. We will continue our
efforts internationally and with Congress and the American people to
seek ways to bring about the goal of a peaceful transition to a free,
prosperous, and democratic Cuba.
(end text)