UNITED NATIONS, CMC – The United Nations Common Meeting (UNGA) has voted overwhelmingly to finish the US’ financial and commerce embargo in opposition to Cuba, which was first imposed in 1960.
100 eighty-seven states voted for the decision put ahead every year in opposition to the embargo, with solely the US and Israel voting in opposition to it and Ukraine abstaining.
The decision’s full title is the “necessity of ending the financial, industrial and monetary embargo imposed by the US of America in opposition to Cuba.”
The UNGA Thursday voiced concern that, regardless of its resolutions courting again to 1992, “the financial, industrial and monetary embargo in opposition to Cuba remains to be in place” and that “the opposed results of such measures on the Cuban folks and Cuban nationals residing in different international locations.”
It recalled measures adopted by then-US President Barack Obama in 2015 and 2016 “to switch a number of features of the applying of the embargo, which distinction with the measures utilized since 2017 to strengthen its implementation”.
The Common Meeting reiterated its name for all international locations to chorus from promulgating and making use of such restrictive legal guidelines and measures consistent with their obligations underneath the UN Constitution and worldwide legislation.
In explaining its vote, the Consultant of the US, Paul Folmsbee, stated that his nation “stands resolutely” with the Cuban folks.
“We strongly assist their pursuit of a future with respect for human rights and basic freedoms,” he stated, noting that sanctions are “one set of instruments” within the US’ broader effort in direction of encouraging Cuba to advance democracy and promote respect for human rights and basic freedoms.
He stated Washington acknowledges the challenges the Cuban folks face, explaining that sanctions embody exemptions and authorizations referring to exports of meals, medicines, and different humanitarian items to Cuba.
“The US opposes this decision,” he stated, encouraging the Common Meeting to induce the Cuban Authorities to stick to its human rights obligations “and hearken to the Cuban folks and their aspirations to find out their future.”
However Cuban Overseas Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla stated the greater than 60-year blockade violates the rights of all Cuban women and men.
He stated households lack items, there are lengthy queues and excessively excessive costs, and the Authorities makes wonderful efforts to feed its folks.
Rodríguez Parrilla stated the blockade deprives the agricultural business of funds to purchase animal fodder, industrial tools, and different requirements for meals manufacturing.
Regardless of wavers on meals merchandise, he stated the US is violating worldwide commerce guidelines.
“Cuba is prevented from shopping for from US corporations and its subsidiaries in third international locations, tools, applied sciences, medical gadgets, and end-use prescription drugs, and is, subsequently, pressured to amass them at exorbitant costs by the use of intermediaries or to exchange them with less-effective generic medication,” he stated, citing testimony from Cuban households wrestling with critical sicknesses.
“How totally different might [their] lives have been if Cuba was not prevented from buying immediately from the US market the (drugs) to forestall the spasms?” he queried.
The Overseas Minister recalled the scenario through the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the challenges to buying medical oxygen and the necessity for the US Authorities to grant a particular license for that transaction, “even through the pandemic,” which mirrored the inhumane nature of the coverage.
Rodríguez Parrilla stated 80 p.c of the inhabitants has by no means recognized life with out the crippling US blockade.
It’s “an act of financial warfare, in occasions of peace,” making a scenario of ungovernability and an try and destroy the constitutional order, he stated.
Rodríguez Parrilla stated Cuba was not a menace in any respect to the US and that to topic a small nation for many years to financial warfare was unacceptable.
He stated the entire nation was being disadvantaged of the best to progress by an “unlawful, merciless and inhumane coverage.”
Rodríguez Parrilla stated that the US has been pressuring banks worldwide to not cope with his nation, turning into victims of US hostility and its dangerous influence on the worldwide monetary system.
He identified that the blockade separated Cuban households and disadvantaged US residents of their proper to go to Cuba.
The “tightening financial siege” has been accompanied by a disinformation marketing campaign in opposition to Cuba, he stated, in search of to destabilize and discredit the nation.
The Overseas Minister stated there was a “media campaign” within the US to encourage discontent and a misunderstanding of a home political disaster.
He stated he appreciated the assist of greater than 40 international locations through the two-day debate.
Nonetheless, Rodríguez Parrilla stated Havana would “proceed to construct bridges with the folks of the US” and all emigres residing overseas and by no means stop to defend their “free and sovereign homeland,” supporting its persevering with transformation.
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