Overwhelming rejection of the blockade

• Unanimous support for the Cuban resolution from Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa and Europe • Almost total backing from Asia and Oceania, with only three abstentions, while the United States opposes it along with its faithful ally Israel

UNITED NATIONS, October 26.—The United Nations today ratified for the 29th consecutive time, the worldwide rejection of the blockade imposed by the United States on Cuba for almost a half century and Washington’s isolation in maintaining it, PL reports.

The isolation of the U.S. government was again in evidence in the General Assembly during the vote for the resolution entitled "The necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States of America against Cuba.

The principal UN agency repudiated the continuation of this measure by 187 votes in favor, two against (United States and Israel) and three abstentions (Marshall Islands, Micronesia and Palau). This year Palau changed its vote against to one of abstaining.

Observers did not fail to note that Cuba’s demand to lift Washington’s coercive measure was supported by all the UN member states from Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa and Europe. Asia and Oceania had the aforementioned abstentions.

The resolution approved this Tuesday reaffirms the principles of sovereign equality among states, non-intervention and non-interference in internal affairs, and freedom of international trade and navigation.

It also rejects the promulgation and application of laws and regulations such as the so-called Helms-Burton Act, "whose extraterritorial effects are adversely affecting the sovereignty of other countries, legitimate interests of enterprises and individuals under its jurisdiction, as well as freedom of trade and navigation."

It also brings to mind the 18 resolutions approved by the General Assembly every year from 1992 to 2009 and statements and agreements by various intergovernmental forums, agencies and governments rejecting the promulgation and application of measures of this kind.

In relation to this, the resolution notes that despite those decisions on the part of the UN’s highest forum, new measures directed at reinforcing and extending the economic, commercial and financial blockade of Cuba are still being promulgated and implemented.

In that context, it expresses UN concern at the negative effects of those measures on the Cuban population and Cuban nationals living in other countries.

In the resolution, the text reiterates its call to all states to abstain from promulgating and implementing laws and measures such as those of the blockade against Cuba, and calls them to comply with the obligations contained in the UN Charter and international law.

It also "once again urges states in which laws and measures of this type exist and are still being implemented – in the shortest possible time period and in conformity with their jurisprudence – to take the necessary measures to abolish or leave them without effect."

Finally, it asks the UN Secretary General to prepare a report on compliance with the resolution to be presented to the 66th session of the General Assembly next year, when the issue of the blockade will once again be debated.

Translated by Granma International