April 26, 2019
Fernando Gonzales Llort
President
Instituto Cubano de Amistad con los Pueblos (ICAP)
Havana, Cuba
Dear Comrade Fernando Gonzales Llort,
Warm greetings of Friendship and Solidarity.
The Philippines-Cuba Friendship Association denounces US imposition of its Helms-Burton Act (1996) on Cuba as a Gross Violation of International Law and Cuba’s Sovereignty.
The recent threat by the United States to impose the full force of its Helms-Burton Act (1996) against Cuba by May 2, 2019 is a gross violation of International Law and the sovereignty of Cuba. Under Title III of the US law, a person or entity doing business, or having financial or commercial transactions in Cuba, can be sued in a US court. The law illegally interferes in commercial transactions in Cuba and in other countries outside of the US territory. The European Union, Canada, Mexico, Argentina and other US allies vehemently opposed this US law upon its inception, and made measures to block its effect on their countries. The EU even filed a complaint against the USA in the World Trade Organization.
As a result of intense international and domestic opposition, all US Presidents since Clinton have issued successive six-month suspensions of Title III of the Helms-Burton Act, until Donald Trump who decides to end the suspension and enforce the law by May 2, 2019. The effect would be injurious not only to Cuba’s economy but to the European Union, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, China, Russia and even to entities in the USA with commercial and business engagements in Cuba.
The escalation of US attacks on Cuba forms part of a vicious wave of Imperialist aggression by the United States against Venezuela, Libya, Syria, Palestine and Iran. These hegemonic actions of the USA trample on the rights of peace loving peoples of the world, violate international law and threaten world peace and security.
In solidarity with the people of Cuba and the world, we demand the immediate suspension of the Helms-Burton Act, Title III and an end to the US blockade on Cuba. We call on the international community to put an end to these unilateral acts of violations of international law by the USA and to defend the sovereign rights of the Cuban people, and of all peoples to self-determination, and to freedom from aggression.
In friendship and solidarity,
Atty. Edwin de la Cruz
President
Norma G. Biñas
Secretary General
Philippines-Cuba Friendship Association/Amistad