US Blockade on Cuba: New Vote Tomorrow at the UN

Cuba’s Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez arrived in New York for a new vote tomorrow at the UN General Assembly on the need to end the U.S. blockade to the island.

Rodriguez, who was received early today by Cuban permanent representative Rodolfo Reyes, will address the 193 country meeting, a forum where the Washington siege has been categorically rejected by the international community in the last 21 years.

The draft resolution that will be submitted to the Assembly calls to the lifting of sanctions whose economic damages are estimated by the Caribbean nation at $1,157 billion USD, while described as invaluable the social consecuences, for its impact in sectors such as health.

There are no doubts here about the result of the vote, as of criticisms generated in the five continents about the blockade policy applied by the United States to Cuba for more than 50 years.

In the recent high-level debate of the UN General Assembly, held between Sept. 24 and Oct. 1, the U.S. blockade and its rejection was again among the most discussed issues by presidents, heads of State, and foreign ministers.

More than 40 statesmen alluded to the blockade and the need to end it, many of them described it as genocide, illegal, unfair, and a relic of the Cold War.

Moreover, a large number of countries and specialized UN agencies sent to Secretary General Ban Ki moon its considerations about the unilateral measure, elements that will make up a report ahead of the vote.