MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 04th May, 2019) Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez discussed the crisis in Venezuela and US decision to file lawsuits against Cuba and foreign companies in connection with property confiscated after the Cuban revolution, the prime minister's office said in a statement on Friday.
In mid-April, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that the United States would not extend beyond May 2 the respite of a law allowing claims against Cuba and foreign companies in connection with property seized from US citizens after the Cuban revolution. This decision has paved way to filing such claims. US oil and gas corporation Exxon Mobil has already filed a lawsuit against the Cuban state-owned oil company Cuba-Petroleo and CIMEX corporation in a US Federal court over the confiscation of a refinery, gas stations and other property in 1960.
"The Prime Minister and the President discussed the ongoing crisis in Venezuela. ... The two leaders also discussed the decision of the United States to enact Title III of the Helms-Burton (LIBERTAD) Act," the statement says.
According to the statement, the two leaders touched on ways on which they can work together to support a peaceful solution to the Venezuelan crisis.
Trudeau reiterated that Canada considers the extraterritorial US adoption of unilateral measures against Cuba to be contrary to international law.
"Canada will defend the interests of Canadians conducting legitimate trade and investment with Cuba," the statement says.
The Helms-Burton Act (LIBERTAD) was passed in 1996. It provides for the extension of economic restrictions not only to Cuba, but also to foreign companies cooperating with it, including for receiving the benefits of the property seized by the authorities of the island, which belonged prior to 1959 to US citizens or Cubans who later acquired US citizenship. However, all US presidents since that time have consistently extended the respite of the application of all its provisions.
