wfn.org | NCC Opposes Helms Bill

[CAROL_FOUKE.parti@ecunet.org (CAROL FOUKE)]

National Council of the Churches of Christ in the
U.S.A.
Contacts: Oscar Bolioli, CWS, New York, 212-870-2460
  Kathleen Selvaggio, CWS, Washington, 202-
543-6336
Internet:  news@ncccusa.org

47NCC5/15/98            FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NCC OPPOSES HELMS' "CUBAN ASSISTANCE AND SOLIDARITY
ACT"

WASHINGTON, D.C. May 15 -- The National Council
of Churches is concerned that the Cuban Assistance
and Solidarity Act, introduced May 12 by Senator
Jesse Helms (R-NC), will undermine efforts to
respond to humanitarian need in Cuba.

 "The legislation would politicize aid, and does
not appear to be motivated by a genuine desire to
help the Cuban people, but rather focuses on
weakening the Cuban government,"  said the Rev. Dr.
Joan Brown Campbell, NCC General Secretary.

"Control of religious or non-profit assistance
would run counter to historic patterns of voluntary
aid," said the Rev. Dr. Rodney Page, Executive
Director of Church World Service, the NCC's
humanitarian assistance ministry.  Since 1992, CWS
has provided more than $7 million in humanitarian
aid  to Cuba, distributed through the Cuban Council
of Churches, including canned food, grain, medicine,
medical and hospital supplies, health and school
kits, and blankets.

 Most disturbing to the NCC, Dr. Page said, is
the legislation's requirement that aid only be
channeled through "independent non-governmental
organizations" in Cuba that are designated by the
President and approved by Congress.   This
restriction would violate the independence of
private agencies, including CWS, whose mission is to
respond to humanitarian need free from partisan
political and foreign policy concerns of government,
he said.  It would also undermine efforts to build
partnerships with Cuban communities based on trust
and mutual respect.

 The bill would also set back the recent
decision by President Clinton to allow direct
flights to Cuba for humanitarian purposes, Dr. Page
noted.  The new policy has enhanced CWS's ability to
respond quickly to emergency needs in Cuba.
However, Senator Helms' bill would require strict
reporting and monitoring of aid to ensure that it
only goes through the approved NGOs, and would
require new Congressional approval of direct flights
for humanitarian purposes every six months.  The
extra requirements would inhibit CWS's efforts to
provide humanitarian aid on a timely basis, Dr. Page
said.

 Finally, the bill would only permit donations
of humanitarian aid, not commercial sales.
"However, Church World Service's experience in Cuba
leads us to conclude that humanitarian aid is not a
substitute for trade," he said.  "Donations of food,
medicine and medical supplies from Church World
Service and other agencies are essential, but they
provide far less than Cuba needs to protect public
health and prevent hunger."

 The NCC supports other legislation, the Cuban
Women and Children Humanitarian Relief Act (S 1391)
and the Cuban Humanitarian Trade Act (HR 1951),
which would exempt the sale of food and medicine
from the trade embargo.  "These bills," Dr. Page
said,  "demonstrate respect for the principle that
food and medicine should not be used as a weapon in
the effort to impose economic sanctions."

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