Austrian Bank Yields to US Blockade on Cuba

[Mika]

Source: Prensa Latina

Cuba's Ambassador to Austria, Norma Goicochea, accused on Wednesday the BAWAG bank of "witch hunting" for having closed accounts of about one hundred clients of Cuban origin.

The diplomat said this decision against people living here violates international law and decisions of the European Union Council, a bloc which has an "antidote law" against the application of extraterritorial laws by Washington.

BAWAG, which will be soon in the hands of the US "Cerberus" investment fund, is also assuming a position contrary to the Austrian government's at the UN, where it supports the end of the US blockade against Havana every year.

Goicochea said that this case not only affects Cuba's sovereignty, as a US law is being applied in Austrian territory as well.
In her opinion, in this way, the BAWAG bank takes part in the US policy of genocide against the Cuban people by supporting the US economic, commercial, financial blockade.

Read more: http://www.plenglish.com/article.asp?ID=%7B636A4863-36F4-4688-8649-DA153D071C06%7D&language=EN

---

So much for the idea, often expressed here on DU, that Cuba can do business with the rest of the world w/o US interference.

[damntexdem]

1. If Austria is really serious, it will tell BAWAG to obey the law, ...

and common human rights, or be prosecuted.

[Judi Lynn]

2. British bank faces pressure from MP on Cuba ban

British bank faces pressure from MP on Cuba ban
Published on Thursday, April 26, 2007 Email To Friend Print Version

By Kitty Donaldson

LONDON, England (Bloomberg): A British member of Parliament has criticised Barclays Plc over its plans to close the bank accounts held by two Cuban organisations after pressure from the US.

Barclays, Britain's third-biggest bank, has asked for the withdrawal of accounts held by Havana International Bank and Cubanacam, a state-owned travel organisation. The US bars trading with Cuba and it has recently put pressure on companies in the UK to sever ties with companies based there too.

"British law states that no person will be discriminated against on grounds of race or nationality," Ian Gibson, a lawmaker for the ruling Labour Party, said in an e-mailed statement in London Wednesday. "This decision clearly contradicts this and could place the bank in contravention of British discrimination laws."

Gibson said he would urge Barclays shareholders to object to the matter at the company's annual meeting. The bank operates in more than 60 countries, with more than 2,000 branches in the UK.
(snip/)

http://www.caribbeannetnews.com/news-1160--5-5--.html

[Mika]

3. Where are the DUers who say Cuba can trade with all other countries?