United Nations, Nov 13 (Prensa Latina) For 21st consecutive year, the UN General Assembly reaffirmed its call for the lifting of the fifty-year long US economic, comercial and financial blockade on Cuba.
The demand is container in a resolution approved by the top UN body by 188 votes in favour, three against (the United States, Israel and Palau) and two abstentions (Marshall Islands and Muicronesia).
The text highlights the importance of strictly respecting the principles of the UN Charter, including sovereign equality of States, non intervention and non interference in internal affairs and the freedom of trade and international navigation.
It expresses concern about the fact that UN member countries continue enacting and implementing laws and regulations like the Helms-Burton Act of 1996 and calls nations to abstain from enacting such regulations that have extraterritorial effects and affect the sovereignty of other states, the legitimate interests of bodies or people under their jurisdiction and the freedom of trade and navigation.
The Assembly “calls once again the States where such laws and measures exist and continue being implemented to take necessary measures, as soon as possible and according to their laws, in order to abolish them or declare them without legal effect.”
The resolution takes note of statements and resolutions by different intergovernmental for a, bodies and governments expressing the rejection from the international community and the public opinion to the enactment and implementation of this type of measures.
Finally, the document requests the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to draft a report about the implementation of the present text to be presented to the 68th period of sessions of the UN General Assembly next year.
It also maintains the issue in the work program of the General Assembly for next year.