Blockade on Cuba Intensifies its Territorial Dimension

The economic, financial and commercial blockade on Cuba imposed by the United States intensified above all in its extraterritorial dimension, despite a new stage in relations with that nation.

The imposition of heavy fines against banks and financial institutions are the result of the persecution of Cuban transactions, states the report Necessity of Ending the Economic, Commercial and Financial Blockade Imposed by the United States of America against Cuba. That Washington’s measure has taken more than fifty years.

Cuban Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodriguez, presented the report on Resolution 69/5 of the UN General Assembly, and noted that “despite the measures announced by President Barack Obama on December 17, 2014 and its stated willingness to engage in a debate with Congress to lift the blockade, laws and regulations that support this policy, they remain in force and are applied rigorously by the agencies of the U.S. government.”

He revealed that the economic damage to the Cuban people by the blockade, considering the depreciation of the dollar against the value of gold in the international market, totalled $833,755 billion USD.

While, estimates conducted at current prices, indicate that this policy has caused damage for more than $121,192 billion USA to different sectors, he added.

Rodriguez said that document, which already circulates among UN members, will be debated and voted on by the General Assembly on October 27. In 23 previous times, that text has received increasing majority support by the international community.

He stressed that the new resolution starts from an updating of the traditional text submitted for more than 20 years and has had overwhelming support at the General Assembly.

The Washington restrictive policy against Havana has been described as absurd, illegal and morally unsustainable.