President cites 'national interests'

From Kelly Wallace

WASHINGTON (CNN) --Despite pressure from Cuban-Americans, President
Bush alerted Congress he was extending for six months a measure barring
Americans from suing any Cuban person or organization over property
confiscated by the nation's communist government.

In a letter Tuesday to House and Senate leaders, Bush said the continued suspension
was "necessary to the national interests of the United States" and would "expedite a
transition to democracy in Cuba."

Under a 1996 law, known as the Helms-Burton Act -- for Sen. Jesse Helms,
R-North Carolina, and Rep. Dan Burton, R-Indiana -- Americans whose property
was seized after Cuban President Fidel Castro took power in 1959 may sue any
individual or business in Cuba that uses that property.

Former President Bill Clinton repeatedly signed waivers suspending the measure
after Helms-Burton took effect. This is the third time Bush has signed such a
waiver, a move that is likely to disappoint many Cuban-Americans.

Despite the action, the president sought to reaffirm his support of policies designed
to topple Castro. The White House said that Bush remains committed to travel and
trade restrictions against Cuba to encourage a "rapid transition" to democracy.

"The administration strongly opposes any effort to loosen sanctions against the
Cuban regime until it undertakes meaningful political, economic and labor reforms
and respects human rights," the White House said.

The White House also noted that Cuba remains on the State Department's list of
countries which support terrorism and said the Cuban regime "remains hostile to
United States national security interests."

During a speech in May, Bush unveiled proposals that the White House said would
encourage democratic overhauls in Cuba, including providing scholarships to
Cubans whose family members are political prisoners or dissidents, resuming direct
mail service between the United States and Cuba and broadening "people-to-people"
contacts.