Title: UN General Assembly Overwhelmingly Rejects US Trade Embargo on Cuba
The UN General Assembly has taken a significant step towards ending the economic and trade embargo imposed by the United States on Cuba. In a resounding majority, 187 member states voted against the US embargo, with only the United States and Israel casting their votes against, while Ukraine abstained. This annual resolution, titled Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba, gained widespread support.
The resolution, which had been the subject of debate since Wednesday, reaffirms the General Assembly’s call for all nations to refrain from implementing and promoting such restrictive laws and measures that run counter to their obligations under the UN Charter and international law.
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla strongly criticized the embargo, emphasizing that it infringes upon the rights of all Cubans. He pointed out that 80% of the Cuban population has never experienced a life free from the crippling effects of this blockade. Parrilla denounced the embargo as an act of economic warfare in times of peace and a deliberate attempt to undermine the constitutional order, leading to ungovernability.
Representatives from various countries echoed these sentiments, expressing their concerns about the negative impact of the continuing embargo. Aurelie Flore Koumba Pambo, the representative of Gabon to the UN, highlighted the harmful repercussions faced by the Cuban people due to the economic blockade. She condemned the embargo as a hostile act that undermines regional and continental cohesion while also hampering the social and economic development of Cuba.
Peruvian UN Ambassador Luis Ugarelli emphasized that Peru aligns itself with the overwhelming international consensus against the embargo. He asserted that the blockade goes against the principles of the UN Charter and international human rights law. Peru reaffirmed its support for the resolution, as it has consistently done for over three decades.
This latest vote at the UN General Assembly serves as a strong message to the United States regarding its trade embargo on Cuba. The international community has made it clear that the embargo’s enduring enforcement is considered detrimental and unjust by a majority of nations. The resolution’s support underscores the belief that the embargo infringes upon Cuba’s development and hindered its citizens’ well-being for far too long.
While the resolution cannot compel the United States to lift the embargo, it amplifies the global sentiment against this long-standing policy. The UN General Assembly’s overwhelming rejection highlights the urgent need to reconsider the embargo and work towards normalized trade relations between the United States and Cuba.
The international community hopes that this decisive vote will bring the United States one step closer to ending an embargo that has remained in place for more than 60 years. As the voices against the blockade grow louder, the call for a change in policy becomes increasingly difficult to ignore.
