Guyana agrees with the remarks of international organizations which previously asserted their opposition to the U.S. blockade of Cuba.
The extraterritorial nature of the measure violates the self-determination of peoples, and the United Nations Charter. We demand an immediate end to this destructive policy, the representative said, adding that the blockade is an unjust act against the Cuban people.
Guyana guarantees the Cuban people its unwavering solidarity in the struggle for self-determination, he insisted.
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South Africa insisted that the blockade, which has caused extensive damage to Cuba, cannot be justified any longer.
The delegation’s spokesperson highlighted the historical ties that unite the two nations and thanked the Cuban people for their support in the fight for their liberation.
He also noted the escalation being mounted by the United States against the island, and strongly condemned the activation of the Helms-Burton Act’s Title III and unilateral measures adopted by the U.S. to undermine Cuban economic development.
South Africa called on the international community to support Cuba and its people, and stressed that these measures are a violation of international law.
The representative stated that his country will vote in favor of the resolution in question, and urged the U.S. government to end the illegal policy.
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Zimbabwe supports statements by the Africa Group, the Non-Aligned Movement and the Group of 77 plus China, the country’s representative stated, while calling for an end to the blockade imposed on Cuba, which, in addition to being a violation of international law and the UN Charter, is a violation of the island's right to development, he said.
He also recalled last year’s vote. that was almost unanimous, a confirmation of the international community’s opposition to coercive measures against Cuba.
Suriname, Angola, Nicaragua, and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea all took the floor to express support for Cuba’s resolution demanding an end to the U.S. blockade.
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The People's Republic of China’s spokesperson began his remarks by welcoming Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez to the Assembly, and stating that his country strongly condemns all coercive measures imposed by the United States on Cuba, especially the economic, commercial, and financial blockade. The representative recalled the extent of losses Cuba suffered over the last year as a result of the blockade, and how it negatively impacts efforts to meet sustainable development objectives. China and Cuba have maintained friendly, mutually beneficial business relationships in various fields, he noted. China will vote in favor of the draft resolution presented by Cuba.
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Saint Vincent and the Grenadines expressed strong support for the resolution on the necessity of ending the economic, commercial, and financial blockade of Cuba.The country’s representative condemned the unilateral measure which constitutes a flagrant violation of international law.She commended Cuba for the solidarity and humanitarian assistance it has provided to many of the countries present in the international organization, especially for its participation in the fight against Ebola in Africa.She also stressed that cooperation based on mutual respect and non-interference are essential to development.Lifting the blockade is critical for the people and government of Cuba, so that they can achieve full prosperity, she said, reiterating rejection of the illegitimate blockade imposed on Cuba by the United States.
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Algeria reaffirmed its opposition to the blockade, seconding the position taken by the Non-Aligned Movement, the Group of 77 plus China, and the African Union, while Kenya’s representative called for respecting Cuba’s right to self-determination.
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Mexico reiterated its firm rejection of unilateral actions against Cuba, including the imposition for more than five decades of the economic, commercial, and financial blockade that contravenes international law, the country’s representative stated. Any unilateral measure designed to motivate a change in the economic, political, or social system of a country from abroad violates the principles of the United Nations Charter. Mexico rejects the application of unilateral laws with extraterritorial effects, and regretw the decision of the United States to activate, for the first time in history, Title III of the so-called Helms Burton Act, which affects not only the Cuban people but also to third countries. I would also like to remind you of the opinion of the Inter-American Juridical Committee of August 23, 1996, when it was affirmed that the foundations and the eventual application of the Helms Burton Act do not conform to intentional law. Mexico votes for the renewal of dialogue and cooperation between the United States and Cuba, as this would constitute a good opportunity for both nations to advance their national priorities and agree on issues of international importance, for mutual benefit. Mexico and Cuba enjoy a historically close relationship. Mexico is today the island’s fifth most important trading partner and second in the region. Cooperation in educational, scientific, and cultural matters has produced tangible progress in at least 15 projects, he noted.
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Representatives from Belarus, India, and Vietnam added their voices to the call for an end to the blockade.
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Russia’s representative referred to the anti-Cuban campaign unleashed by the United States to achieve its objective of punishing the Cuban government for exercising its right to self-determination.He described the blockade as the main obstacle to the enjoyment of human rights in Cuba, and condemned Washington's insinuations against Cuba’s internationalist doctors who help those most in need around the world.Russia has always stood with the people of Cuba, and calls for the immediate lifting of the blockade that violates the United Nations Charter and constitutes interference in the internal affairs of another state, he added.
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The representative of Caricom, the Caribbean Community took the floor to reaffirm that small states are committed to non-interference in the internal affairs of countries, stating that Caricom is very concerned about the blockade, since Cuba is an important component of the community, and does not threaten anyone. We believe that the blockade is not only a punitive measure against Cuba, but against regional development, she emphasized.The Caricom representative also spoke on behalf of Grenada and highlighted the excellent state of bilateral relations with Cuba.She condemned the Helms-Burton Act and said that her country still harbors the hope that the international organization will help end the blockade of Cuba, and achieve stability in the region.
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Azerbaijan, on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement, speaks. "More than 190 states stand in solidarity with Cuba while the United States remains alone with its reactionary policy against the island.“We request that the blockade be terminated on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement, taking into account its extraterritorial and unjust nature. We ask that the principles of non-interference and non-intervention in the internal affairs of other countries be respected.”
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10:00 a.m.United Nations General Assembly begins presentation of the resolution of Cuba on the damages of the US blockade
“Cuba will not cease demanding the total elimination of the economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed by the U.S." said Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla on Twitter, referring to the presentation today and tomorrow, before the United Nations General Assembly, of the draft resolution on the need to end the criminal policy.
For the 28th consecutive time, the General Assembly will take a position on the longest commercial siege in history, an unjust and genocidal system of sanctions that constitutes the main obstacle to Cuba’s development, and that clearly violates international law and the will of the Assembly, which has condemned it on 27 previous occasions.
Precisely because of the discredited nature of this policy, the United States resorts to pressure and coercion to change the votes of nations supporting Cuba, something that was denounced Monday by our Minister of Foreign Affairs, who cited maneuvers by officials of the U.S. government to pressure mainly Latin American countries.
Recalling the State Department’s miserable failure in 2018, when it “attempted to amend and change the nature of the resolution that has been traditionally presented to the General Assembly,” Rodríguez stated, this year’s objective is to reduce the margin of victory which Cuba’s resolution has traditionally obtained by pressuring countries around the world.
Nonetheless, he concluded, “Cuba knows it can count on the unanimous support of the peoples of Latin America and the entire planet, and expects that none of the governments of the region will give in to Washington’s anti-Cuban designs, which would mean turning a blind eye to the recognized will of their respective peoples, world public opinion, international law, and the most elemental standards of ethics and justice.”
Between April of 2018 and March of 2019, alone, the blockade has caused damages of at least 4,343,600,000 dollars, and those accumulated over 60 years have reached 138,843,400,000 dollars, at current prices.
