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NYC won't do business with firms in
- Subject: NYC won't do business with firms in
- From: ausgeo@xxxxxxx
- Date: Fri, 30 May 1997 18:16:00
Subject: NYC won't do business with firms involved in Burma
Friday May 30
NYC won't do business with firms involved in Burma
NEW YORK, May 30 (Reuter) - New York City Mayor Ruldoph Giuliani on Friday
signed a law barring the city from dealing with companies that do business in
Burma.
The law, pushed by City Council Speaker Peter Vallone, responded to complaints
from human rights groups about the military regime that controls Burma.
Giuliani said the bill confronted him with ``a difficult choice.'' But he told
reporters at a news conference: ``We're not just the business capital of the
world, we're the capital of the world.''
The mayor added that he did not believe ``It will in any way affect the
economic well-being of the City of New York, and if it does, it will be for
the right reasons.''
President Clinton in mid-May officially imposed economic sanctions on Burma.
The United States and other Western countries accuse Rangoon of human rights
abuses and repression of the democracy movement led by Aung San Suu Kyi.
The city's measure was opposed by the New York City Partnership and Chamber of
Commerce, and Evangeline Binder, the group's vice president of government
affairs, said it would put banks, petroleum and high-tech companies at a
disadvantage.
She noted that the Council is working on similar legislation for 15 countries
said to persecute Christians.
``Once begun where does local business sanction legislation logically end?''
she asked. ``It sends the message New York City is not a business-friendly
environment,'' she added.