The United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday overwhelmingly adopted a resolution urging the United States to end its decades-long economic and trade embargo against Cuba.
The resolution received support from 187 member states, with only the United States and Israel voting against it, and Moldova abstaining.
The General Assembly reaffirmed the principles of sovereign equality of states and non-intervention in internal affairs, calling for all states to refrain from promulgating or applying restrictive laws and measures contrary to the UN Charter and international law.
Though non-binding, the annual resolution highlights the international community’s opposition to the U.S. embargo, first imposed in 1960 following the Cuban revolution led by Fidel Castro.
Cuba’s Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla condemned the blockade as “commercial warfare” and “a crime of genocide,” questioning how long such measures would continue. “President Joe Biden’s administration tends to claim that its policy is to help and support the Cuban people,” Rodriguez said. “Who would believe such an assertion?”
He added that the blockade is “a flagrant, massive, and systematic violation of the human rights of our people” and described it as the “most encompassing, comprehensive, and longest-standing system of unilateral coercive measures ever applied against any country.”
Since 1992, the UN General Assembly has annually adopted a resolution demanding an end to unilateral U.S. restrictions on Cuba, with the document receiving the support of a majority of UN member states.
Recent years have seen the United States adopt harsher economic measures designed to prevent the supply of fuel and spare parts needed to maintain Cuba’s power plants and electric grid.
The overwhelming support for the resolution underscores the isolation of the United States regarding its embargo policy and reflects the global call for renewed engagement and dialogue.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
