By CNN Correspondents John King and Major Garrett

                 WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President George W. Bush has marked the
                 seventh anniversary of the ramming of the "13 de Marzo" tugboat by renewing
                 support for economic and travel sanctions against Cuba.

                 Forty-one passengers drowned after the vessel, filled with people trying to
                 flee Fidel Castro's regime, was rammed by a Cuban gunboat.

                 Bush denounced the Communist government's "complicity" in "this and
                 other crimes -- crimes that should not go unpunished, against innocent
                 civilians and countless other human rights violations over the years."

                 Castro's critics say the boat, was sunk by Cuban gunboats on July 13, 1994
                 with Amnesty International saying it had evidence from eyewitnesses asserting
                 that four Cuban vessels pursued the tugboat until it sank. According to Castro it
                 was an accident.

                 The president called sanctions "not just a policy tool, but a moral statement" and
                 said he would oppose "any attempt to weaken sanctions against Cuba until it
                 respects the basic human rights of its citizens, frees political prisoners, holds
                 democratic free elections, and allows free speech."

                 Bush also said that he had ordered the Treasury Department to "enhance and
                 expand" enforcement of economic sanctions against Cuba.

                 "It is important," Bush said in a statement, "that we uphold and enforce
                 the law to the fullest extent with a view toward preventing unlicensed and
                 excessive travel, enforcing limits on remittances, and ensuring humanitarian
                 and cultural exchanges actually reach pro-democracy activists in Cuba."

                 Bush also pledged to increase support for human rights activists, the
                 democratic opposition and non-governmental organizations to work
                 on "pro-democracy programs in Cuba" saying his "number one priority"
                 was ensuring Radio and TV Marti are "broadcast clearly to Cuba allowing
                 every Cuban citizen access to accurate news and information."

                 To achieve this goal, Bush said, he had instructed Salvador Lew, director of the
                 office of Cuba Broadcasting, "to use all available means to overcome the
                 jamming of Radio and TV Marti."

                 But, under pressure from key European allies, Bush appears poised to continue
                 blocking suits by U.S. citizens against those who have benefited from property
                 seized by Cuba following the 1959 revolution.

                 The so-called Helms-Burton law allows such suits but a provision allowing the
                 president to suspend or waive the provision for six months at a time was
                 routinely used by the President Bill Clinton.

                 During his campaign, Bush had said he believed U.S. citizens whose assets were
                 seized should have the right to sue but two senior U.S. officials said Bush was
                 set to issue a six-month waiver next week.

                 Canada an d U.S. allies in Europe oppose the move because companies in their
                 countries who have hotel and other commercial interests in Cuba could then be
                 open to legal action.

                 By suspending the law, Bush risks alienating Cuban-American voters, whose
                 support helped him narrowly win the pivotal state of Florida in the 2000
                 presidential election.