U.S. anti-Cuba law meets widespread defiance

June 7, 1996
Web posted at: 6:55 a.m. EDT (1055 GMT)

From Correspondent Lucia Newman

MEXICO CITY (CNN) -- Cubans, hanging on every word of the international debate over the Helms-Burton Amendment, got some welcome news this week: The Organization of American States condemned the new U.S. law, handing the Cuban government a surprising victory.

The amendment, signed into law in March, aims to punish companies that do business with property confiscated by Cuba after the Cuban revolution in 1959. So far, three international corporations that do business with Cuba have been warned by the United States that they could be sued under the new law.

NAFTA partners Canada and Mexico had already condemned the measure on the grounds that the United States has no right to pass laws that extend to its neighbors. And European Union member countries formally condemned the measure last month.

"In '60, '61, and '62, the U.S. was capable of organizing a holy alliance against Cuba," said Miguel Alfonso, Cuba's Foreign Ministry spokesman. "It's impossible now."

Supporting his statement, members of Spain's chamber of commerce met in Havana Thursday to explore new investment opportunities. The prominent Spanish hotel Melia has vowed not to abandon Cuba and is in the process of building a new hotel in Havana.

The Mexican owners of the Tuxpan Hotel, who also have significant investments in the United States, say they are willing to face the consequences of remaining in Cuba.

"We have lawyers and, I mean, we're ready," said Bernardo Dominguez, president of the DSC Group. "If someone will file a suit or legal action against us, we're prepared to demonstrate that we didn't do anything illegal."

Not all the firms threatened by the United States are playing tough. Indeed, Cuba admits that the decision by Mexican cement giant Cemex to withdraw from Cuba demonstrates that the Helms-Burton law is having some impact.

"But this policy, this aggressive policy against Cuba will not be able to either stop or reverse the flow of foreign capital to Cuba," said Raul Taladrid, a deputy minister in the Mexican Government Investment Office.

That may be true, but it could also depend heavily on Washington's willingness to continue, or even increase, the pressure over the objections of some of its closest allies.

Related Stories

• Mexico bucks U.S. pressure to drop Cuba trade - May 29
• U.S. plot to thwart Cuba trade aggravates partners - May 29
• Clinton signs bill aimed at Cuba - March 12
• CNNfn - Questions surround impending passage of Helms-Burton Bill compromise - February 29

Related sites

• U.S. Representative Dan Burton
• U.S. Senator Jesse Helms
• Organization of American States
• The Cuban Freedom Pages
• Note from the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Cuba Solidarity
• Workers World: Cuba Under Attack

Related newsgroup:

• soc.culture.cuba

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