Sir, - Jean Kennedy Smith's explanation (July 16th) of the threat of sanctions by the European Union in retaliation to the latest escalation of the illegal US sanctions against Cuba, is a travesty of the truth. The naked facts, should help to illuminate the situation for your readership:
Cuban scientists have developed the world's only vaccine effective against Meningitis B. Irish children have died from Meningitis B. An Irish company, Edenbrook, attempted to market this vaccine. The US Government rushed through legislation with the specific aim of bankrupting this, and any other company or individual, worldwide, which trades with Cuba.
We urge the European Commission to continue in its forthright stand in favour of free trade, human rights and natural justice, a stand which is in stark contrast to the actions of the US. We question the legitimacy of any "democracy" that can seek to impose illegally its will on so many for the benefit of so few.
Irish people should ask themselves if they have unwittingly conspired in the creation of a world stalked by a single, heavily armed superpower with scant regard for the principles of international law or the rights of small nations. We do have a special relationship with the US and are thereby uniquely positioned, at this point in our history, to exercise some real political muscle on the world stage for the sake of the long term peace and security of all mankind. In doing so, we, could help to decommission mind sets in places we never thought possible. - Yours, etc.,
Co-ordinator,
Dublin Branch, Cuba Support Group -
Dublin Branch,
15 Merrion Square,
Dublin 15.