The Miami Herald
July 19, 2001

Cuban lawmaker says Bush had no choice but to waive part of law

 HAVANA -- (AP) -- President Bush was not making a concession to Havana when he decided not to enforce a law that lets U.S. citizens sue Cuban owners of property that was seized from Americans, a leading Cuban lawmaker said Wednesday.

 ``My personal opinion is that he had no other choice,'' said Ramon Pez Ferro, president of the Cuban parliament's foreign relations commission.

 A section of the 1996 law co-authored by Sen. Jesse Helms and Rep. Dan Burton, both Republicans, gives Americans the right to sue but also gives the U.S. president the authority to waive enforcement.

 The president has to decide every six months.

 Former President Clinton waived enforcement eight times during his second term, and Bush decided not to change that policy even though he is more allied with
 anti-Castro Cuban-American groups than Clinton was.

 Bush notified Congress on Monday that he was waiving the provision just hours before a midnight deadline.

                                    © 2001