President Bush extends waiver of provision in law on Cuba

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http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/sfl-0115bushcuba,0,6286054.story?coll=ny-leadworldnews-headlines&vote15857042=1

WASHINGTON -- President Bush notified Congress on Friday that he would maintain a ban on lawsuits by U.S. citizens whose property was taken by the Cuban revolution.

Bush said in a letter that the action was ``necessary to the national interests of the United States and will expedite a transition to democracy in Cuba.''

The lawsuit provision was included in a 1996 law aimed at tightening sanctions against Cuba.

Secretary of State Colin Powell recommended that Bush renew the waiver, but some officials urged that the provision be allowed to lapse, thus opening the way to lawsuits.

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dated 1/14/04