Thursday, 25 January, 2001, 00:38 GMT

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service

Bill to ease sanctions against Cuba

Two United States senators have filed a bill that would
ease the US trade embargo against Cuba.

The legislation -- put forward by Republican Senator Pat
Roberts and Democrat Byron Dorgan -- would grant
Cuba access to US export credits and bank loans to buy
American food.

It would also relax travelling restrictions to the island.

Senator Roberts said that although he was unhappy with
Cuba's past actions, it was important to re-insert the
island into the world economy. Last month, the Cuban
authorities dismissed a call by a United States panel of
foreign policy experts for a significant relaxing of
sanctions, saying it contained nothing new.

In their report, the experts recommended increasing
contacts between the US and Cuba, as part of efforts to
encourage a transition to democracy.