[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 37, Number 3 (Monday, January 22, 2001)]
[Page 138]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
 Statement on Suspending Title III of the Cuban Liberty and Democratic 
Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996

 January 17, 2001

     I am notifying the Congress that I have decided to suspend for an 
additional 6 months implementation of provisions of Title III of the 
Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act, which allow legal actions 
to be brought against firms trafficking in confiscated properties in 
Cuba. I believe this action will enhance efforts by the United States to 
strengthen international cooperation aimed at promoting peaceful 
democratic change in Cuba.
     For the past 5 years, the United States has pursued a strategy, 
coordinated by the Department of State, to increase international 
pressure on the Cuban Government to respect human rights and to begin 
political and economic reforms. Our friends and allies have joined us by 
taking concrete actions to try to hasten the day when Cuba will join the 
community of democratic nations. Encouraged by the results of our 
efforts to elicit the aid of our friends, I said in January 1997 that I 
expected to continue suspending this provision of Title III so long as 
our partners' stepped up pro-democracy efforts continued.
     Over the past 6 months, the international community has continued 
to send a clear message to the Cuban Government on the need for greater 
respect for human rights and democratic reforms. For the second 
consecutive year, the Cuban Government experienced diplomatic isolation 
at the Ibero-American Summit, as other heads of state criticized Cuba's 
undemocratic government and abysmal human rights record. In the same 
vein, the Government of Canada has made clear that Cuba will not be 
invited to the 2001 Summit of the Americas, as the summit is for 
democratic nations only. The Cuban Government is hearing a consistent, 
firm message that it is time for peaceful, democratic change in Cuba.
     I encourage our friends and allies to continue taking effective 
steps to promote democracy and human rights in Cuba.