Nelson Urges Clinton to Pressure Spain

U.S. Senator urges Clinton apply diplomatic pressure on Spain to keep company there from working with Cuba on oil drilling off South Florida

WASHINGTON, D.C. - With Cuba and a Spanish company poised to start oil drilling this summer at a point dangerously close to Florida, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson is asking Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to ramp up diplomatic pressure on the government of Spain in hopes of at least temporarily blocking the Communist regime's plan to begin oil exploration in waters between Havana and Key West.

A letter to Clinton from Nelson, dated yesterday, is the latest move in a multi-year effort involving the senator to block Cuba from exploring for oil in waters where one accident like the BP spill could wreak havoc on South Florida's tourism-driven economy and undermine some of the ongoing restoration work in the Everglades, one of the world's most sensitive environmental sites.

Nelson told Clinton he was concerned there may be drilling off the North coast of Cuba as early as this summer, threatening Florida's environment and tourism-driven economy, not to mention U.S. national interests. The Spanish oil company Repsol, in a consortium that includes companies from Norway, India and Italy, is expected to drill a deep-water exploratory well roughly 20 miles northeast of Havana — in the currents that run up our Eastern Seaboard and very close to the fragile Florida Keys and south Florida beaches.

"I am asking that you raise this crucial issue with your counterparts in the current Spanish government and impress upon them the urgency of this situation," Nelson wrote to Clinton. "Oil drilling is coming at the behest of Cuba's communist regime, eager to benefit from any offshore oil resources. And by partnering with Cuba, Repsol is acting contrary to U.S. interests in the hemisphere."

Nelson is hoping to at least prevent drilling by Cuba until March 2012, when Spanish national elections could result in a new policy toward Spanish investment in the island nation just 90 miles south of Florida.

Meantime, Nelson has filed legislation that would require oil companies that do business with Cuba to at least comply with all U.S. safety regulations. "It would be a good safety net," he said.

Following is the text of Nelson's letter to Clinton:

May 19, 2011

The Honorable Hillary Clinton
Secretary of State
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20520

Dear Secretary Clinton:

I am concerned that there may be drilling off the coast of Cuba as early as this summer, threatening Florida's environment and tourism-driven economy, not to mention U.S. national interests. The Spanish oil company Repsol, in a consortium that includes companies from Norway, India and Italy, is expected to drill a deep-water exploratory well roughly 20 miles northeast of Havana — in the currents that run up our Eastern Seaboard and very close to the fragile Florida Keys and south Florida beaches.

Over the past several years, I have asked Republican and Democratic administrations to withdraw the diplomatic letters that we exchange with Cuba every two years. These letters are the only thing enforcing the 1977 Maritime Boundary Agreement under which Cuba claims the right to drill. But our presidents have disagreed with me.

So, last year I filed legislation that would have allowed the U.S. to deny visas to executives of foreign corporations in drilling agreements with Cuba. Congress did not pass it.

Now, as oil exploration off Cuba looms on the horizon, I have introduced the Gulf Stream Protection Act of 2011. This would require oil companies that do business with Cuba to at least comply with all U.S. safety regulations. It would be a good safety net.

Meantime, national elections are set in Spain for March 2012. Spain may have a government less inclined to tolerate investment in Cuba. Until such time as the elections, I urge you to do your utmost to prevent these drilling operations.

I am asking that you raise this crucial issue with your counterparts in the current Spanish government and impress upon them the urgency of this situation. Oil drilling is coming at the behest of Cuba's communist regime, eager to benefit from any offshore oil resources. And by partnering with Cuba, Repsol is acting contrary to U.S. interests in the hemisphere.

Financial gain from oil would only bolster a tyrannical regime in Cuba, and indefinitely postpone any hopes for real democratic change on the island. I appreciate your attention to this matter, and I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Bill Nelson