Vile toxins emitted by the chief executive of the world bourgeoisie.... >Delivered-By-The-Graces-Of: White House Electronic Publications >Precedence: Bulk >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Date: Tue, 12 Mar 1996 20:06-0500 >From: The White House <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Subject: 1996-03-12 President Remarks on Signing Helms-Burton Bill >Keywords: Bill-Signing, Central-America-Caribbean, Foreign, Government, >International-Security, > Legislation, President, Remarks, Security, Topical-Remarks, >World-Order >Document-ID: PDI://OMA.EOP.GOV.US/1996/3/12/3.TEXT.1 > > > > > THE WHITE HOUSE > > Office of the Press Secretary > >________________________________________________________________________ >For Immediate Release March 12, 1996 > > > REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT > AT SIGNING OF THE HELMS-BURTON BILL > > > Washington, D. C. > > > > >10:37 A.M. EST > > > THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. Welcome to the >White House Senator Helms, Senator Gramm, Senator Mack, Senator >Lautenberg, Senator Coverdell, Congressman Menendez, Congressman >Torricelli, Congressman Diaz-Balart, Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, >Congressman Deutsch, Congressman Burton, Congressman Kennedy -- I hope I >haven't missed any members of Congress who are here -- to the family >members of those who were tragically shot down, Ambassador Albright, >Assistant Secretary Watson, and my fellow Americans. > > We are here today around a common commitment to bring >democracy to Cuba. Two and a half weeks ago, the world received a harsh >reminder of why a democratic Cuba is so important, not only to us but to >the people of Cuba. In broad daylight and without justification, Cuban >military jets shot down two unarmed United States civilian aircraft >causing the deaths of three American citizens and one U.S. resident. >The planes were unarmed, the pilots unwarned. They posed no threat to >Cuba's security. > > This was clearly a brutal and cruel act. It demanded a >firm, immediate response. On my instructions, Ambassador Albright >convened the United Nations Security Council which unanimously deplored >Cuba's actions. Dozens of countries around the world expressed their >revulsion. Cuba's blatant disregard for international law is not just >an issue between Havana and Washington but between Havana and the world. > > I ordered, also, a number of unilateral actions. One of >those steps was to have my representatives work closely with Congress to >reach prompt agreement on the Cuban Liberty and Democracy Solidarity >Act. Within two days, and with the extra efforts of our friend, >Congressman Menendez, Democrats and Republicans came together and >produced a better bill. It will strengthen the embargo in a way that >advances the cause of freedom in Cuba. > > Today I sign it with a certainty that it will send a >powerful, unified message from the United States to Havana, that the >yearning of the Cuban people for freedom must not be denied. This bill >continues our bipartisan effort to pursue an activist Cuba policy, an >effort that began some four years ago with the Cuban Democracy Act. > > Under the provisions of that legislation, our >Administration has encouraged Cuba's peaceful transition to democracy. >We have promoted the free flow of ideas to Cuba through greater support >for Cuba's brave human rights activists, a dramatic increase in >non-governmental humanitarian aide to the Cuban people, >long distance telephone service. And the more the Cuban people are >free to express the freedoms and rights their neighbors enjoy the >more they will insist on change. > > We have also kept the pressure on Cuba by maintaining a >tough embargo policy. The legislation I sign today further tightens >that embargo. It sends a strong message to the Cuban government. We >will not tolerate attacks on United States citizens and we will stand >with those both inside and outside Cuba who are working for a peaceful >transition to freedom and democracy. > > Finally, let me say as I sign this bill into law, I do so >in the name of the four men who were killed when their planes were shot >down on February the 24th: Armando Alejandre, Carlos Cofta, Mario De La >Pena and Pablo Morales. In their memory, I will continue to do >everything I can to help the tide of democracy that has swept our entire >hemisphere, finally, finally reach the shores of Cuba. > > The Cuban people must receive the blessings of freedom they >have been so long denied. And I hope and believe that this day is >another important step toward that ultimate goal that so many of you in >this audience have worked so hard for, for so very, very long. > > Thank you very much. > > (Applause.) > > > END
