Us Olive Branch To Eu Over Cuba Law

Visiting Denmark on a swing through European capitals, President Bill Clintons special envoy Stuart Eizenstat said that relatively modest steps could make it easier for Clinton to shelve implementation of the so-called Helms-Burton law, already delayed since July.

The President has to make a decision no later than the 16th of January about whether to continue to suspend the lawsuits under Helms-Burton, Eizenstat told a news conference.

The President, in order to continue the suspension of those suits has to make the finding that a further suspension would be in the security interest of the country and would expedite the transition to democracy in Cuba, he added. Thats why we look to our European friends...to elevate the human rights issue so that the president will be in a position if he wishes to do so to consider to exercise that waiver, Eizenstat said. He added that in talks on Thursday with Danish foreign minister Niels Helveg Petersen he suggested that Denmark give someone in its embassy accredited to Havana responsibility for human rights activities, disseminating outside news and , channelling more European assistance through local agencies.

 

He said he also proposeed that European firms make a point of using the same standards of pay, safety and environmental concern in their Cuban operations as they would elsewhere and that non-governmental agencies channel aid through similar Cuban bodies rather than through the Havana government.

They could also speak out on political prisoners and work on judicial and penal reform, he said, adding that such actions would help encourage a change to democracy in Cuba.

It would also have the additional benfit of helping to alleviate and reduce, and perhaps eliminate, the trade tensions that have resulted from the passage of the Helms-Burton Act.

It is not in any way shape or form an effort to extend our trade embargo to the rest of the world, it doesnt prevent any Danish company from trading with Cuba, it doesnt prevent any Danish company from investing in Cuba so long as they dont use expropriated US property, he said.

The act, which has triggered a rare show of cohesion among EU members united in anger, allows lawsuits to be filed in US courts against foreign firms that own or operate properties seized by Cuba from naturalised US citizens since Fidel Castros communist revolution of 1959.

An EU countermeasure agreed on Monday will prohibit European individuals or companies from complying with the act and allow them to reclaim damages in EU courts.

Asked if Washington was taken by surprise by the intensity of European opposition to the Helms-Burton Act, Eizenstat said it had been an eye-opener.

EU diplomats believe that Clinton passed the act only because of election year Congressional pressure and is likely to further suspend it if re-elected but Eizenstat warned that a waiver was not a foregone conclusion.

Ive said this today to (Danish) government officials and Ive said it throughout this week in Europe. It is a mistake to assume that on November 6 if the presidents re-elected that this act is going to disappear it isnt.