Today, November 7, the United Nations approved a resolution entitled, “The necessity of ending the economic, commercial, and financial embargo imposed by the United States on Cuba, with 187 votes in favor, 3 against, and 2 abstentions
12:05 pm The voting process begins.
Result: 187 in favor; 3 against; 2 abstentions
Against: Israel, the United States, Brazil
Abstaining: Colombia and Ukraine
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Cuban Minister of Foreign Affairs Bruno Rodríguez Parilla addressed the General Assembly, and refuted statements made by the United States representative, stating that the U.S. distorts the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and has no authority to criticize Cuba, or anyone else.
Photo: MINREX
He noted that, over the last few months, the Trump administration has adopted measures to disrupt deliveries of fuel to Cuba, hurting the economy and the wellbeing of Cuban families, adding “The U.S. government is responsible.”
Remittances were restricted, the granting of visas was reduced, cruise ships and direct flights to Cuba were banned, sports contracts were canceled, commercial promotional activities ceased.
“The United States government is responsible,” Rodríguez said, explaining that no Cuban family is exempt from the consequences of the blockade. Sick children do not have access to medical equipment produced by U.S. companies. The blockade prevents access to novel drugs for the treatment of cancer produced by U.S. companies. “The U.S. government is responsible.”
With a slander campaign, U.S. politicians and officials defame Cuban medical programs that provide support in other countries, he noted.
Can anyone believe that the U.S. government wants to support Cuba, he asked.
The U.S. delegation should explain here the measures that it imposes on Cuban transactions with other nations.
The successful and effective Cuban model guarantees Cubans equal opportunity and social justice despite hostility and sanctions. The U.S. government has no moral authority to talk about human rights.
Rodríguez recalled that in the United States there are 2.3 million people imprisoned, and every year more than 10.5 million arrests are made.
Families are separated, parents and children detained at borders, and migrants deported. Prisoners are illegally and indefinitely held at the U.S. naval base in Guantanamo. More than half a million U.S. citizens sleep on the streets and 28.5 million have no medical insurance.
Equal opportunity in the United States is a chimera. Women earn approximately 85 percent of what men earn, and there are widespread complaints of sexual harassment. Incarceration rates are racially disproportionate.
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Representatives from Zambia, Trinidad and Tobago, Finland, Costa Rica, and Argentina expressed support for Cuba’s resolution calling for an immediate end to the blockade.
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The Islamic Republic of Iran’s representative took the floor, stating that measures like the blockade, by a single country against another, threaten the sovereignty of nations.
He cited the blockade’s inhumane impact and denounced the escalation seen this last year, adding that Iran, like Cuba, pays for the price of its resistance and independence, challenging the expansionist interests of the United States.
The U.S. says it is concerned about the country’s people, but it makes decisions that harm Iranians, he said.
The United States is not a trustworthy associate, he said, sanctions are illegal and the world must find solutions to deal with such aggressive unilateral measures, he concluded.
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The representative of the Plurinational State of Bolivia stated: Weare not only voting against the economic, commercial, and financial blockade, we vote for hope, for the wonderful opportunity to make our world more just.”
Recalling the words of Nelson Mandela, the official stressed that Africa is indebted to the Cuban people for their support on that countries of that continent.
Cubans share what little it has, and does so selflessly, he said, concluding, “Bolivia joins the voice of the world, demanding that the blockade be lifted.”
Venezuelan Jorge Arreaza, People’s Power Minister of Foreign Relations, took the floor, and began by conveying the importance president Nicolas Maduro affords this vote against the criminal U.S. blockade of Cuba.
He said the current situation is a threat to multilateralism and international law, insisting that no sanction will prevent the two countries from working together, and with other nations present.
He emphasized that the Cuban people is determined to exercise its right to self-determination and no coercive measure will stop them.
The blockade, aggravated by the current administration, causes Cuba losses of millions of dollars. The extraterritorial impact of the arbitrary policy also affects countries that maintain bilateral relations with Cuba. The United States government has no authority over other sovereign states, he stressed.
Despite economic difficulties, Cuba has always provided solidarity cooperation to other countries in the world. The blockade is an obsolete policy intended to isolate Cuba, that has clearly failed, he said.
Arreaza stated that Venezuela demands that all UN organizations at all levels show greater courage and take concrete action to end this inhuman policy that constitute an aggression and an affront to the United Nations. He concluded reiterating that his country will vote in favor of the resolution.
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Neville Melvin, representative from Namibia, began his remarks reiterating that, as in years past, his country would vote against the blockade of Cuba.
Unfortunately, instead of advancing to put an end to the suffering of the Cuban people, we have seen a setback, he noted. New sanctions adopted by the U.S. concern us, he added
Melvin said that, for his country, the island’s people are family, never sparing any effort to contribute to the wellbeing of many other nations.
In defense of the United Nations Charter, our delegation will vote in favor of this resolution, he concluded.
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10:00am: United Nations General Assembly session begins.
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Today, November 7, for the 29th consecutive time, the draft resolution to end the U.S. blockade of Cuba will be considered by the United General Assembly