THE AUSTRALIAN DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTER FOR TRADE
TIM FISCHER
AUSTRALIA WELCOMES FURTHER SUSPENSION OF
US CUBA SANCTIONS LAW
The Australian Government has welcomed the decision by president Clinton
to suspend the effective application of the Title III of the Helms-Burton
law for a further period of six months, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister
for Trade Tim Fischer said today.
The decision avoids the prospect of foreign companies with legitimate investments
in Cuba facing possible law suits in US courts from US citizens claiming
the companies were 'trafficking' confiscated property.
The decision to further suspend the application of Title III follows president
Clinton's decision last July 5 to suspend Title III for an initial six months.
"Australia has consistently expressed concern at the extraterritorial
provisions of the Helms-Burton law and other unilaterally imposed US sanctions
legislation such as the D'Amato law on Iran," Mr Fischer said.
"While we share US concerns at the need for political reform in Cuba
as well as concerns with aspects of Iranian behaviour, Australia has urged
the US to seek co-operative approaches for pursuing shared foreign policy
concerns.
"This way the US can avoid unilateral actions which adversely affect
the commercial interests of US allies, and Australia considers the most
recent decision of President Clinton to be a step in the right direction."
Mr Fischer said the decision represents an acknowledgment by the US of the
need to manage such issues within the broader context of its relations with
its allies.