[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 43 (Monday, April 14, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S3130]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 REGARDING THE UNDERSTANDING REACHED BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND THE 
                             EUROPEAN UNION

 Mr. D'AMATO. Mr. President, I rise today to comment on the 
understanding reached between the United States and the European Union 
regarding the implementation of the Helms-Burton Act and the Iran-Libya 
Sanctions Act.
  I want, from the start, to congratulate Ambassador Stuart Eizenstat, 
Undersecretary of Commerce, who negotiated this understanding. His 
commitment to easing relations between the United States and the 
European Union is unending. His work on the issue of Holocaust victims 
assets in Swiss banks has also played a vital role in settling that 
problem. I am honored to work with him on both counts.
  The understanding, as it relates to the Iran-Libya Sanctions Act, is 
quite clear. It states:

       The U.S. will continue to work with the EU toward the 
     objectives of meeting the terms (1) for granting EU Member 
     States a waiver under Section 4.C of the Act with regard to 
     Iran, and (2) for granting companies from the EU waivers 
     under Section 9.C of the Act with regard to Libya.

  It should be clear that the terms for granting a waiver, specifically 
with regard to Iran are very simple. If the country from which the 
company to be sanctioned is situated imposes substantial measures, 
including the imposition of economic sanctions, then a waiver can be 
granted. Yes, there is a provision for national security waivers, but 
to simply provide a blanket waiver for the European Union, is a clear 
contravention to the will of Congress and goes against the very fact 
that the President signed the bill.
  Congress intends for this law to be implemented in full, without 
blanket waivers that do not follow the provisions enacted unanimously 
last year. If blanket waivers are provided without just cause then only 
Iran will benefit. Congress enacted this bill with the intention of 
denying the funds to Iran necessary to fund terrorism, as shown by the 
verdict in Mykonos and the strong speculation that Iran had a role in 
the bombing of the Khobar towers in Saudi Arabia. It also did so to 
deny Iran the funds with which to obtain weapons of mass destruction.
  We must remember that the Iranian Government, at the highest levels, 
has been implicated in ordering the assassination of Kurdish dissidents 
in Berlin. This terrorist act was conducted on European soil, not 
American. It is unfortunate that Europeans are blind to the need for 
action to curb Iranian terrorism, even when it is occurring on their 
own streets. For Europeans to push for a relaxation of antiterrorism 
legislation to counter Iran, is even worse. Yet, all of this seems to 
be of little matter to them. The only thing that does matter is that 
trade continues, even with the likes of Iran. I wonder if they will 
ever understand this all?
  I look forward to seeing how this understanding progresses, and I 
look forward to European compliance with the legislation. Europeans may 
take this issue lightly. If they think that they can get a simple 
waiver so that they can conduct business as usual with the foremost 
sponsor of international terrorism, but they're wrong--very 
wrong.

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