|
International community backs Cuba
On
Tuesday October 28, the United Nations General
Assembly adopted a resolution entitled “The
Necessity of Ending the Economic, Commercial and
Financial Blockade imposed by the United States of
America against Cuba,” with the support of 188 of
its 193 members.
 Juan
Carlos Mendoza, Costa Rica’s representative to the
UN spoke for the Community of Latin American and
Caribbean States (CELAC) calling for an end to the
blockade.
On the twenty-third consecutive occasion, the
main forum of this
international body
categorically demanded
the lifting of the blockade
enforced by
Washington
for over half a century,
which has resulted in economic
damages estimated at
almost $1.16 trillion dollars and incalculable human
suffering.
The
United States and Israel did not back the
resolution, while the Marshall Islands, Micronesia
and Palau abstained.
Intergovernmental bodies and representatives from
various countries supported Cuba in the General
Assembly and condemned the economic, commercial and
financial blockade imposed by the United States for
over half a century.
On
behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), Iranian
Ambassador Javad Sharif stated that the U.S.
blockade is the principal obstacle to Cuba’s
development, and described it as unjustifiable.
Similarly, Bolivian Ambassador Sacha Llorente,
representing the Group of 77 plus China, declared
that the blockade represents a “threat to humanity”
and a “blatant violation of the principles contained
within the Charter of the United Nations and
international law.”
“Human lives are threatened and public health care
is undermined by the blockade, as well as education,
culture, sports, finances, banking, international
trade, foreign investment”, he added.
The
Ambassador for Costa Rica, Juan Carlos Mendoza, on
behalf of the Community of Latin American and
Caribbean States (CELAC), called for complete
respect for the sovereignty and self-determination
of Cuba.
He
described the blockade imposed since the last
century as severe, and reiterated that it has caused
huge economic losses.
Carlos Felipe Martínez, for Argentina, in
representation of the member states of the Southern
Common Market (MERCOSUR), stated that the blockade
is “morally unjustifiable” and the measures imposed
“have no place in today’s world.”
The
UN Permanent Representative for Russia, Vitali
Churkin, also reaffirmed his country's rejection of
any punitive discriminatory measure, used as an
instrument of interference in the internal affairs
of states.
Samuel Moncada, Ambassador for the Bolivarian
Republic of Venezuela, condemned
the attacks on
third parties for
having links with
Cuba,
as a result of the blockade
and other measures such as
the Helms-Burton
Act.
Venezuela
also
rejected U.S harassment of
other Cuban bodies, including those
on the Cuban
Interest Section in
Washington,
which for over a year has been
deprived of financial
services.
On
behalf
of the European
Union,
Deputy Permanent Representative
of
Italy to
the UN,
Inigo Lambertini,
noted that "the effects of
extraterritorial
legislation and unilateral
administrative and judicial measures"
on the part of
the
United States against
Cuba
"have negative
effects on the interests
of the
Union."
“We
cannot accept that the measures unilaterally imposed
impede
our trade relations with
Cuba,"
the diplomat said,
after stating that
a lifting of the embargo
(blockade) “could
facilitate the opening up
of the Cuban economy
for the benefit of
the population."
Representatives from Mexico,
India, Algeria, Vietnam, China, Belarus, Egypt,
South Africa,
Colombia,
Brazil, Indonesia, the
Solomon
Islands
and
Zimbabwe also
spoke in support
of
Cuba
and against
the U.S blockade.
Many
of these
delegations commended
Cuba
for sending
more doctors
than any other country
to
West
Africa
to contain
the largest outbreak of
Ebola
since the disease was
discovered in 1976.
WORN
OUT ARGUMENTS
Representing the United States, Ambassador Ronald
Godard once again repeated the same arguments that
his country has used to justify its policy of
aggression towards the island before the General
Assembly for more than two decades.
He
attempted to demonstrate that remittances Cubans
receive from their families constitute a form of aid
on the part of the U.S. government, when in fact the
blockade prohibits any assistance to the country.
He
also blamed the Cuban government for the
limited access and connectivity to
the Internet, but failed to mention that
authorities
in his
country prohibit
Cuba from connecting
to the many
fiber optic cables
which surround the island,
at the same time
as they prevent the country from
acquiring software and
equipment, and deny Cubans
access to numerous websites.
His
words were
far removed from those published
by the press from his very own country,
which in their editorials
increasingly question
the blockade
policy,
as well as statements made
by senior officials of his
own government
who recognize the
need for change.
The
U.S. representative’s intervention was not deserving
of a reply,
especially when the Permanent
Representative for
Nicaragua,
Maria Rubiales, who spoke
immediately afterwards, completely
undermined his arguments.
"Once again
they intend to mislead
this Assembly
with their
worn out arguments which no
longer convince
anyone, a reflection of
these obstinate and
obsolete policies,
of
imperial arrogance
and
egoism," she said.
"Hopefully
the
U.S.
will
decide to rectify
its policies and
bring an end to its
self-isolation, we invite
the country to join us
and accompany
the international community in
order to put an end to the
past and build a future
of friendship,
cooperation and mutual respect,"
she concluded.
|
