Periodico 26

Havana, Cuba.- The lawsuit against American Airlines and the Latam Airlines Group was filed on behalf of José Ramón López Regueiro who claims his father was the owner of the Island's main International airport in Havana, which was nationalized by the Revolutionary government after 1959.

The "defendants have trafficked in or benefited from ongoing, unlawful trafficking in the Airport, by arriving and departing the Airport and using its facilities for cargo and passenger transport," the filing reads.

American Airlines said in a statement it would review the lawsuit in detail and "vigorously defend (its) service to Cuba."

"American Airlines" service to Cuba including José Martí International Airport in Havana is authorized by the U.S. government," it said. "In addition, (this law) specifically exempts lawful travel, which is what American provides."

The Trump administration activated the long-dormant Title III of the Helms-Burton Act as part of a campaign to put pressure on Cuba to drop its support of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

Some analysts say the Trump administration appears also to be seeking to win over the Cuban-American community in the swing state of Florida ahead of the November 2020 presidential election.

SPAIN REITERATES ITS REJECTION OF IMPLEMENTATION OF TITLE III OF HELMS BURTON ACT

United Nations.- Spain's acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, Josep Borrell, reiterated Wednesday his country's position against the activation of Title III of the Helms-Burton Act.

In a meeting with his Cuban counterpart, Bruno Rodríguez, at the United Nations, both ministers addressed issues of bilateral, regional and multilateral interest, according to a note released y the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation.

Borrell said the implementation of Title III of the Helms-Burton Act "discourages and penalizes trade and investment by companies from third countries and also causes serious harm to the well-being of the Cuban population."

The note adds that "the Government of Spain and the EU reject these unilateral coercive measures contrary to international law, and work together with the European Commission, the rest of the Member States and other international partners to adopt the necessary measures to alleviate this decision."

During their meeting, both ministers also reviewed the crisis in Venezuela and "expressed their support for the negotiating process under the mediation of Norway and their interest in these talks being able to resume in the near future, with the conviction that there is no other way out of the crisis than that resulting from a political negotiation between Venezuelans."

During the meeting, the Cuban minister explained the recent evolution of the economic situation in Cuba, including information on the energy issue.

Both ministers agreed to "continue working to deepen bilateral relations."

In that sense, next October, Minister Borrell will travel to Cuba "to hold bilateral consultations contemplated in the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the President of the Government during his visit to Cuba," the official note adds. (RHC)

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