U.S. blockade principal obstacle to
Cuban development
Geneva, May 13, Cuba condemned the economic,
financial and commercial blockade imposed on the
country by the United States for more than 50 years,
citing it as the principal obstacle to the
fulfilment of the country’s Right to Development.
The aggression persists and intensifies,
constituting a massive, flagrant and systematic
human rights violation, stated Cuban representative
Alejandro Castillo.
During the 15th session of the Working Group on the
Right to Development, Castillo commented that to
justify the blockade, the U.S. government employs
various political strategies, including the absurd
and unjustifiable designation of Cuba as a state
sponsor of terrorism.
Castillo also emphasized Cuba’s strong rejection of
the manipulation of an issue as sensitive as
international terrorism, in an attempt to convert it
into a political tool used against Cuba and to
justify the blockade.
Castillo demanded that Cuba be definitively removed
from the spurious, unilateral and arbitrary list
which constitutes an affront to the Cuban people and
demanded that the U.S. lift the blockade, as the
international community has called for. Since the
imposition of the blockade in 1962, until April
2013, the economic damage inflicted on Cuba has
exceeded one trillion dollars.
During his speech Castillo stated that almost 30
years after the creation of the Declaration on the
Right to Development, the issues continues to be a
priority for many countries, including Cuba.
The global economic crisis that is currently
affecting all nations, the negative impact of
neo-liberal globalization, the protective barriers
implemented by rich countries and unequal exchange,
are some of the obstacles that, at an international
level, threaten the realization of this right,
commented Castillo. He also stated that
if
there were political motivation from industrialized
nations they could, quite easily, effect a big
change for billions of people.
The activities of the Working Group on the Right to
Development, a subsidiary body of the United Nations
Human Rights Council, will continue until May 16,
with the participation of representatives from all
over the world. (PL)
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