18 January 2000
Fact Sheet: Clinton Renews Suspension of Helms-Burton Provisions
(International efforts to promote democracy in Cuba growing) (1630) Following is the text of a January 15 State Department fact sheet outlining President Clinton's decision to suspend for another six months certain provisions of Title III of the Helms-Burton Act. The fact sheet also details continuing actions by U.S. friends and allies to promote democracy in Cuba. (begin fact sheet) U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE Office of the Spokesman January 15, 2000 FACT SHEET The President's Title III Decision January 2000 Presidential Decision President Clinton has suspended for an additional six months, effective February 1, 2000, the provision of the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act that allows U.S. nationals with claims to confiscated property in Cuba to file suit under Title III of the Act. In accordance with the Act, the President certified that a suspension is necessary to the national interest and will expedite a transition to democracy in Cuba. He has reported his determination to the appropriate Congressional committees. In reaching this decision, the President cited important continuing actions by our friends and allies to promote democracy in Cuba. The President allowed Title III to enter into force on August 1, 1996, but suspended for six months the provision that would permit American nationals to bring suit against persons trafficking in confiscated properties in Cuba claimed by a U.S. national. He did so in order to work with our friends and allies to develop a multilateral approach to advance democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms in Cuba. The President tasked the Department of State to undertake a new effort to develop international support for democracy and human rights in Cuba. Senior State Department officials met with leaders throughout Europe and Latin America from all sectors -- government, politics, private sector, labor, religion, and human rights -- to forge this new multilateral movement. While there remains substantial disagreement about the best approach to bring democracy to Cuba, all recognize that Cuba must undertake democratic change and respect human rights. In January 1997, the President cited significant progress in the development of the multilateral initiative and renewed the suspension for another six months in order to consolidate and further develop the multilateral approach. At that time, he said he would expect to continue to suspend the Title III lawsuit provision as long as our friends and allies continue their efforts to promote a transition to democracy in Cuba. In July 1997, January 1998, July 1998, January 1999, and July 1999, the President noted additional concrete steps to promote democracy and human rights when he announced additional six-month suspensions. The President's initiative to gain international support for democracy in Cuba -- the most ambitious since Castro seized power -- is yielding tangible positive results. In the past six months, governments, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector have taken additional important steps to promote democracy in Cuba. Cuban officials at home and abroad continue to hear a concerted message in support of democratic change. Progress in the International Effort to Promote Democracy in Cuba. Government Actions The Ibero-American Summit Havana hosted the annual Ibero-American Summit in November 1999, intending to focus on economic issues and the "evils" of globalization. Instead, dissidents claimed center stage, meeting openly with senior members of delegations and holding press conferences with international media. Castro was forced to share the stage with his domestic opponents and endure lectures on human rights and democracy from heads of state and foreign ministers of countries such as Spain and Mexico. Several Latin American heads of state declined to attend, including the President of Costa Rica, who cited Castro's failure to guarantee access to dissidents as his reason for not going. Among the key developments: -- In unprecedented moves, Mexican President Zedillo openly called for democratic values, while Foreign Minister Green met with dissidents. Mexico has traditionally supported Cuba and maintained a hands-off policy on Cuba's internal affairs. -- Spanish Prime Minister Aznar, the Portuguese and Uruguayan Presidents, and the Mexican, Costa Rican, Panamanian, and Nicaraguan foreign ministers all met dissidents and called for political opening and respect for human rights in Cuba. -- The foreign press focused on the meetings with and the activities of dissidents, not on the summit itself. -- In their speeches, Spanish King Juan Carlos called for a future in which "Cuba opens up to Cuba" and Spanish Prime Minister Aznar called for democracy and reconciliation among Cubans. Canada -- Canadian Prime Minister Chretien, in protest of the continued incarceration of four prominent Cuban dissidents, declared July 1 that "Ottawa's Honeymoon with Cuba" is over. He said Ottawa would review its foreign policy regarding Cuba. -- Although the press had speculated that Chretien had planned to help Cuba rejoin the Organization of American States when Canada would host the OAS general assembly in 2000, he announced in July that "this is not the best moment to readmit Cuba." The Canadian foreign ministry told the press in late June, "We have made it clear to Cuba that without an important signal of will to proceed with reform on their part, Canada cannot play a role in facilitating their re-incorporation into the OAS. Canada believes that it is important to remain engaged with Cuba. However, engagement is not the same as uncritical acceptance." -- Ottawa and Havana also clashed during the summer when Castro accused Canada of irregularities in the judging of an international sporting tournament. The European Union -- In December, the General Affairs Council reconfirmed without discussion the EU's Common Position for an additional 6 months. The GAC stated, "There have been no changes (over the past six months) in conditions in the country that would justify a modification of the EU strategy toward Cuba." It also said that the objective of the EU remains "the encouragement of a process of peaceful transition to pluralist democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as sustainable economic recovery and improvement in the living standards of the Cuban people." -- During the June 28-29 EU-Latin America Summit in Rio de Janeiro, several leaders pressed Castro on human rights and the plight of political prisoners. -- In late June, the EU Council condemned Cuba's increased use of the death penalty and called for an end to secret trials and executions. -- The new European Commission leadership demonstrated its commitment to the US-EU Understanding, including through Commissioner Patten's meetings with Administration officials and Congressional leaders. Patten's briefing to the EU Parliament included a staunch defense of the Understanding and argued for refraining from new WTO actions over pending Title IV cases. -- October US-EU Troika consultations addressed actions regarding human rights issues in Cuba, EU support to NGOs in Cuba (with programs to aid the most vulnerable youth and the elderly, as well as cofinancing EU NGO interaction with Cuban counterparts), and private sector technical assistance. EU representatives noted that EU officials visiting Cuba can now "routinely" visit dissidents -- which would have been unthinkable as recently as 2 years ago. Bilateral Actions -- In October, the Spanish government announced that the planned bilateral visit to Cuba by the Spanish King and Queen would be postponed indefinitely. The announcement said that conditions for the visit did not exist due to the human rights situation and the lack of democracy. Prime Minister Aznar had previously demanded a "package of changes" from Cuba using the royal visit as leverage. -- Also in October, Dutch Foreign Minister Van Aartsen expressed concern over a planned trade delegation visit to Cuba in the absence of a Cuban response to Dutch concerns about human rights and jailed dissidents. Foreign Trade Secretary Ybema did lead the delegation, but met with dissidents and raised human rights with Castro during the trip. -- In August, Argentinean President Menem promised the Inter-American Press Association (SIP) that he would personally engage his Latin American colleagues to convey his "concern about the lack of press freedom in Cuba." -- Several European countries, including those that have successfully made the transition from Communism to free market democracy, maintain support for Cuban dissidents. Arrest of the Dissidents Working Group Governments, organizations, and individuals throughout the world continued to express concern, both publicly and privately, about the Cuban government's arrest and detention of the four leaders of the Dissident Working Group -- Martha Beatriz Roque, Vladimiro Roca, Felix Bonne, and Rene Gomez Manzano. They were arrested in 1997 for publishing a document entitled "The Fatherland Belongs to All," which criticized Cuba's one-party system and called for democratic change. On March 1, a closed trial was held. On March 15, the four dissident leaders were convicted of sedition and sentenced to prison terms of 3.5 to 5 years. The trial, conviction, and sentencing of these brave leaders brought widespread condemnation from throughout the world. As noted above, the issue contributed to a cooling of relations between Canada and Cuba. Martha Beatriz Roque's hunger strike during the fall captured the attention of world leaders and the international press until Havana agreed to review her case. NGO's and Human Rights Organizations Non-Governmental organizations, human rights organizations, political parties, and other independent groups outside of Cuba continued to press for human rights and democratic change in Cuba. Press Commentary The European news media has continued its stepped-up focus and commentary on Cuba's repressive human rights measures. Many editorials in respected newspapers from the left, center, and right have called for democracy and human rights in Cuba. Most notably in Spain and the Netherlands, media coverage exhibited an increasing focus on human rights abuses in Cuba and was more critical of Castro. (end fact sheet) (Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State)
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