wfn.org | NCCCUSA Supports Sale of Food, Medicine to Cuba

[CAROL_FOUKE.parti@ecunet.org]

National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.
Contact: NCC News, 212-870-2252
Internet: carol_fouke.parti@ecunet.org

NCC6/16/97

NEWS CONFERENCE: CUBAN HUMANITARIAN TRADE ACT OF 1997

 WASHINGTON, D.C. ---- The Rev. Oscar Bolioli will 
represent the National Council of Churches at a news 
conference Wednesday, June 18 (9:30 a.m.), at which the 
introduction of the "Cuban Humanitarian Trade Act of 1997" 
will be announced.

 Mr. Bolioli, Director of the NCC's Latin American and 
Caribbean Office, and a United Methodist minister, said the 
Council wants the U.S. to lift its embargo against Cuba, but 
supports this act as a measure that would help the 
humanitarian situation in Cuba.  The "Cuban Humanitarian 
Trade Act of 1997" would permit U.S. companies to sell 
medicine and food to Cuba, he said.

 "We hope this can open a dialogue to look at other 
solutions," he said.

 The news conference will be at 9:30 a.m. June 18 in 
Room B-308, Rayburn House Office Building., Washington, D.C.  
Participants will include American physicians, business and 
religious leaders, former U.S. officials, Cuban Americans 
and a bipartisan coalition of members of Congress.

 Besides announcing the introduction of the act, the 
group will begin a bipartisan campaign to address the 
negative effects of the U.S. embargo of food and medicine on 
the people of Cuba.

 (In the Congress, contacts for the news conference are 
Elise Downer (Office of Congressman James A. Leach) 202-225-
6576 and Roderic Olvera Young (Office of Congressman Esteban 
E. Torres) 202-225-5258.)

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