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The United Nations has passed a resolution calling upon the United States government to end the economic blockade against Cuba.
The resolution which was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday “Necessity of Ending the Economic, Commercial and Financial Embargo Imposed by the United States of America Against Cuba” was passed by an overwhelming majority of 187 states voting in favour.
However, Brazil voted against the draft resolution, while Colombia and Ukraine abstained from voting.
It should be noted that the resolution comes after Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez on November 4,2019 accused the United States of exerting pressure on Latin American countries to oppose the draft resolution.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Pankin pointed out during a UN General Assembly session on November 6 that the US blockade has already amounted to more than USD922Bn in economic damage to Cuba while obstructing the Cuban citizens’ right to a dignified life and embracing their own socio-economic development.
It should be recalled that the United States first imposed an arms embargo on Cuba in 1958. The ban was complemented by the introduction of restrictions in various other sectors, including sanctions on financial transactions, trade and travel.
Former US President Barack Obama relaxed US policy toward Cuba, introducing regulations to ease people-to-people contacts.
However, President Donald Trump toughened the policy when he came to power in 2016, restricting travel, boosting the economic embargo and imposing sanctions on Fidel Castro’s brother Raul Castro, Cuba’s Communist Party leader, over alleged human rights violations and supporting the Venezuelan leadership, which America is not on good terms with.
