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)