Port-of-Spain, 9 October. The 27 countries of the Latin American Economic System (SELA) took the opportunity today to "reaffirm its most energetic rejection" of the Helms Burton Law because it "constitutes a flagrant violation to International Law and to the principles and norms that govern trade" urging that the government of the United States of America abrogate said Act.
This statement was formulated following four days of heated discussions of the XXIII Meeting of the Latin American Council of SELA, the regional organisation with headquarters in Venezuela that is in charge of co-ordinating Latin American and Caribbean joint positions and of promoting regional co-operation.
Decision 390, entitled "Need to Put an End to the Economic, Trade, and Financial Blockade Imposed by the Government of the United States of America Against Cuba" materialises the rejection of the Helms Burton Act as well as of any new attempts to reinforce this legislation in the U.S. Congress.
Under the Helms Burton Act, the U.S. allows itself to sanction countries that trade with Cuba.
The delegations rejected the Helms Burton on the basis that it "ignores the fundamental principle of respect for sovereignty, contravening the rules of coexistence among States and by imposing unilateral sanctions of an extraterritorial nature".
The Latin American Council, SELA’s highest decision-making body, reiterated "its position in favour of the immediate lifting of the economic, trade and financial blockade of the United States of America against Cuba."
Further, the Council agreed "to continue promoting among the Member States of SELA, the official exchange of information and experiences in the drafting and application of the Antidote Laws and Mirror Laws to the Helms Burton Law."
"Mirror Laws" are the legal instruments established by some countries – Canada and Mexico, among others – to counter attack the effects of the Helms Burton Law using similar measures whenever local companies were to be sanctioned for trading with Cuba.
This SELA Decision is based on declarations made so far this year by the Association of Caribbean States, the Summit of Heads of State of the Rio Group, and the European Parliament, which reject any unilateral provision that may be counter to the "internationally-accepted principles and rules of free trade and investment."
The delegations also agreed that the SELA Permanent Secretariat continue examining the Helms Burton Law and keep the Latin American Council informed of its evolution.
From the time the U.S. passed this Law, the SELA Secretariat has devoted two documents for its analysis and its impact on Cuba as well as on other countries.
The Council of SELA approved a number of additional decisions, one of which is the Declaration of Port-of-Spain. This Declaration, upon which Ambassador Moneta, Permanent Secretary of SELA, drew particular attention, voices the need to ensure sustained growth capable of correcting social inequalities for which the Council recommended to go forward with the work aimed at linking policies for the eradication of poverty and employment programmes.
