GENERAL ASSEMBLY ADOPTS DRAFT ON NEED TO END UNITED STATES EMBARGO AGAINST CUBA

Press Release
GA/8983

GENERAL ASSEMBLY ADOPTS DRAFT ON NEED TO END UNITED STATES EMBARGO AGAINST CUBA

The General Assembly, in adopting a draft resolution this morning on the need to end the United States economic, commercial and financial embargo against Cuba, reiterated its call to all States to refrain from promulgating and applying laws and measures whose extraterritorial effects affect the sovereignty of other States as well as the freedom of trade and navigation. (For details of the voting, see Annex.)

The Assembly acted by a vote of 117 in favour to 3 against (Israel, United States, Uzbekistan), with 38 abstentions. By that resolution, the Assembly also once again urged States that have and continue to apply such laws and measures to take the necessary steps to repeal or invalidate them as soon as possible.

The representative of Cuba introduced the resolution and said that the attempts to submit the sovereignty of third States to the designs of the United States legislation and to subordinate international law had become more dangerous than ever. "With absolute lack of ethical and juridical sense, the promoters of these new initiatives intend to internationalize the unilateral blockade of the United States against Cuba, as if this policy had not been the one particularly rejected by the international community through three General Assembly resolutions." The present resolution would send a signal to those who would violate the principles enshrined in the Charter and international law, he added.

The United States representative said his Government has indicated repeatedly over the past year that "it is not wedded to indefinite continuation of the embargo but is prepared to reduce its sanctions in carefully calibrated ways should there be significant political and economic reform in Cuba". But he added that his country had concluded that, unpopular as its economic sanctions might be in the General Assembly, their continued application was necessary.

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Speaking on behalf of the European Union, the representative of Spain said the Union had always rejected the actions of the United States aimed at involving third States in the application of commercial measures that fell exclusively within the foreign or security policy of the United States. "The European Union cannot accept that the United States unilaterally determines or restricts the European Union's economic and commercial relations with any other State", he said.

The representative of Colombia read from the Cartagena Declaration, adopted last month by heads of State or government of the Movement of Non- Aligned Countries, which called upon the United States to put an end to the economic, commercial and financial measures and actions against Cuba which, in addition to being unilateral and contrary to the Charter and international law, and to the principle of neighbourliness, caused huge material losses and economic damage. The United States should settle its differences with Cuba through negotiations on the basis of equality and mutual respect, he said.

Other statements were made by the representatives of Mexico, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Viet Nam, Brazil, United Republic of Tanzania, Malaysia, Iran, Libya, Indonesia, Zimbabwe, Saint Lucia, India, South Africa, Jamaica, China, Russian Federation, Ecuador, Ghana, Argentina, Japan, Venezuela, Singapore, Iraq, Canada and Gambia.

Also this morning, the Assembly continued its consideration of a draft resolution on multilingualism, hearing the introduction of oral amendments to that draft presented by the representative of Australia.

The General Assembly will meet again at 3 p.m. today to take action on the draft resolution on multilingualism.

Assembly Work Programme

The General Assembly met this morning to consider the necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States against Cuba. The Assembly has before it a draft resolution on the question as well as a report of the Secretary-General. It will also continue consideration of a draft resolution on multilingualism and related amendments.

Under the terms of the draft resolution, sponsored by Cuba, the Assembly would reiterate its call to all States to refrain from promulgating and applying laws and measures whose extraterritorial effects affect the sovereignty of other States as well as the freedom of trade and navigation, in conformity with the Charter and international law. It would once again urge States that have and continue to apply such laws and measures to take the necessary steps to repeal or invalidate them as soon as possible.

The preambular part of the draft would have the Assembly express concern that since the adoption of its three previous resolutions on the matter, further measures aimed at strengthening the embargo continue to be promulgated and applied. It would further express concern about the adverse effects of such measures on the Cuban people. Note would be taken of the Council of the Latin American Economic System's recent call for the lifting of the embargo against Cuba.

The report of the Secretary-General (documents A/50/401 and Add.1) contains replies from governments concerning their response to the resolution adopted by the Assembly under this item last year, which urged that countries repeal any laws which affect the sovereignty of other States (resolution 49/9). The report contains the replies of 48 governments as well as six specialized agencies of the United Nations system.

The total cost to the Cuban economy of the embargo was $1 billion in 1994, according to the reply from Cuba, which states that the United States is persisting in its attempt to break down the clearly expressed will of the Cuban people to defend their right to independence. "The United States is continuing its economic aggression against Cuba and is also exerting political pressure and making veiled or open threats against other nations to induce them to cut their ties with Cuba and join the United States Government's policy of isolating the Cuban nation."

Cuba's response attributes to the United States the motive of seeking to ruin the Cuban economy, causing a serious deterioration in the standards of living so that public demonstrations would occur, bringing an end to the social revolutionary process begun 36 years ago.

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The Cuban response gives a detailed account of recent measures taken by the United States against Cuba and their impact on both that country and third countries seeking to do business with it. New initiatives which have been put forward by Congress would expand the embargo, including the Helms/Burton bill, which aims to internationalize the embargo. "[That] only goes to show that the cold war did not end for all in an equal manner."

In addition to complicating commercial transactions between third countries and Cuba, the United States authorities have also frozen funds released by Cuban firms to make international payments, according to the response, which cites several examples. Another area where the repercussions of the embargo on Cuba's economy are felt is maritime transport, the reply states. Since the entry into force of new United States measures, many carriers are demanding higher freight charges on the grounds that after entering Cuban ports, a vessel will not be admitted to United States ports for six months. Losses resulting from the surcharges for certain imported products and higher freight costs for those products in 1994 alone amounted to some $60 million.

The United States has not only failed to lift the embargo against Cuba, according to the latter's response, but has also used covert forms of aggression such as intimidation and blackmail. Earlier this year, the United States Government once again sent a large group of countries a document in which it warned about the disadvantages of investing in Cuba and the adverse consequences that could result for their business.

As a result of such factors, there has been a progressive deterioration in the consumption of important dietary elements, the Cuban response continues. Major pharmaceutical firms and suppliers of medical equipment which have historically maintained trade links with Cuba recently informed that country that since their products either contained United States parts or were manufactured under United States technological licences covered by the embargo, it was impossible to proceed with deliveries.

"It is Cuban citizens whose lives depend on the implantation of a pacemaker who are in the most difficult situation", states the Cuban reply, describing how the two suppliers it had previously relied on -- from Sweden and Australia -- had stopped supplying Cuba with pacemakers, which are vital to the patients concerned, because of the embargo.

The Cuban response provides further details on implications of the embargo for education; cultural exchanges; Cubans living abroad; and the internationalization of United States policy. And provisions in recent legislation violate the principles of the World Trade Organization. Noting

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that for three years, the General Assembly has adopted resolutions on the matter, the Cuban reply expresses the hope that the United Nations will take an appropriate role in "bringing an end to this injustice".

In its reply, Canada states that it continues to enforce an order, issued in 1992, blocking compliance in Canada with extraterritorial measures contained in the United States' "Cuban Democracy Act". Canada has advised the United States that the Act's provisions purporting to regulate the activities of companies in Canada should be repealed. "The Government of Canada also strongly objects to two bills (the Helms/Burton bills) currently before the United States Congress that would expand the application of the United States embargo against Cuba. Those proposed measures, if implemented, would violate United States obligations under international agreements and are inconsistent with generally recognized principles of international law."

Numerous other responses express the commitments to the Assembly's resolutions of the countries writing on the matter, with some calling upon the United States to repeal its measures against Cuba.

Among the replies of the specialized agencies, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) states that the situation of children in Cuba has been adversely affected by a number of factors, including the embargo. Concern is expressed about nutritional difficulties; the lack of available medicines; serious shortages in school supplies; and the rise in diarrhoeal diseases among children due to problems in the water supply system. The United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat) reports that the embargo is a major factor in the consequences for Cuba's housing production, infrastructure delivery and transport by causing the Government of Cuba to curtail production targets.

Multilingualism

The Assembly also continued consideration of a 63-Power draft resolution that would request the Secretary-General to ensure that personnel recruited by the Organization would either have a command of and make use of at least one of the United Nations working languages or -- in the case of staff members who are going to work for another body of the Organization for two years or less -- the personnel should have a command of and make use of one of the working languages of that other body (document A/50/L.6/Rev.1). The Secretary-General would also be requested to ensure that the use of another of the six official languages of the Secretariat was duly encouraged and taken into account, particularly when promotions and incremental steps were under consideration. And the Secretary-General would be further requested to

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ensure, in particular in the recruitment and promotion of Secretariat staff, equality of the working languages of the Secretariat and of their use within the Organization. (English and French are the working languages; Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish the official languages.)

The draft resolution would also urge the delegations of Member States and the Secretariat to endeavour to avoid holding internal meetings without interpretation. It would stress the need to ensure that the necessary resources are available to guarantee the proper and timely translation of documents into the official and working languages.

Also, the Assembly would stress the need to ensure adequate human and financial resources for maintaining the teaching of the official and working languages. It would, further, stress the importance of ensuring the availability of adequate data banks and publications in the libraries and documentation centres of various bodies.

The draft resolution was sponsored by Afghanistan, Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, France, Gabon, Greece, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Kazakstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Nicaragua, Niger, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Senegal, Spain, Togo, Tunisia, Uruguay, Venezuela and Zaire.

Also before the Assembly were amendments by Japan and Malaysia. Under the Japanese amendment (document A/50/L.8), operative paragraph 3 of the draft resolution, regarding the recruitment of personnel, would be revised so that the Secretary-General would be requested to encourage the different bodies of the organization to recruit personnel that have a command of at least one of the six official languages in addition to one working language, "taking into account the difficulties faced by personnel whose mother tongue is not one of the official languages".

Under the Malaysian amendment (document A/50/L.9), this same paragraph would be revised to simply state that the Secretary-General was requested to take into account the difficulties faced by applicants whose mother tongue is not one of the official languages when recruiting and promoting personnel.

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Introduction of Draft Resolution

BRUNO RODRIGUEZ PARRILLA (Cuba) said that for more than 34 years, the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States Government against Cuba stood in violation of the most elementary standards of international law, peaceful coexistence among States and freedom of trade and navigation. That policy was being carried out in complete contempt for the international community and three resolutions of the General Assembly which called for an end to the blockade against Cuba.

There was no question that the blockade was being intensified, he said. New steps were being taken to expand it, particularly with respect to extraterritorial implications for third States. "At this very moment, new actions of this nature have been adopted by the House of Representatives and the Senate of the United States." Today, a whole arsenal of mechanisms was being deployed so as to ensure the extraterritorial implementation of the blockade by means of innumerable pressures against Cuba's potential economic partners and an implacable pursuit of Cuba's economic activities abroad.

The so-called "Torricelli Act" of 1992 which aimed to curtail Cuba's commerce was fully in force, he went on. "As a result of the provisions established by this Act against freedom of trade and navigation, most of the carriers are claiming freights higher than normal from Cuba, arguing that if they touch Cuban ports, their ships will not be admitted afterwards in any American port until after 180 days." Over the past two years, the commercial transactions of Cuba with subsidiaries of American companies based in third countries had been reduced almost to zero because the United States Treasury Department had suspended licenses to them. That had seriously affected Cuba's ability to purchase food and medicine for its people.

There was still a prohibition which forbade any foreign company from selling to Cuba medicine, medical equipment or medical supplies which may have components or parts of American origin, even if the company was not a United States subsidiary, he continued. The total damage to the Cuban economy was estimated at $1 billion. "The Cuban population, especially our children, pregnant women, senior citizens and the ill, are the daily victims of the continuation and strengthening of the blockade against Cuba." An illustration of the criminal nature of the blockade was the fact that the only two companies -- both based in third countries -- which supplied pacemakers for Cuban patients had stopped doing so.

"If the consequences derived from this aggressive policy have not been worse, if there is not even one Cuban homeless, if not a single health or educational centre has been shut down, if we have even managed to maintain our very low mortality and morbidity rates, it has been thanks to the high level attained by Cuba's health care and educational systems, to the full-time

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dedication of the personnel who work in those centres, to the assistance provided by our institutions, and to the selflessness and solidarity of all our people."

The attempts to submit the sovereignty of third States to the designs of the United States legislation and subordinate international law had become more dangerous than ever, he stated. "With absolute lack of ethical and juridical sense, the promoters of these new initiatives intend to internationalize the unilateral blockade of the United States against Cuba, as if this policy had not been the one particularly rejected by the international community through three General Assembly resolutions."

Cuba aspired to maintain normal relations with all States, he said. Cuba was appealing to the international community not only because of the extraterritorial nature of the blockade, but also because it demonstrated the effort on the part of the United States to decide the government and social structures that should exist in Cuba. The draft should be adopted as it would send a signal to those who would violate the principles enshrined in the Charter and international law.

MANUEL TELLO (Mexico) said his country was concerned about the adoption by both houses of the United States Congress of the Cuban Liberty and Solidarity Act. Provisions in those bills compromised the sovereignty of other States. Mexico appealed to the sense of justice, equality and international solidarity of the United States Congress and called on its members to prevent the act from becoming law. It would be a clear breach of international law and set an unacceptable political precedent.

It was not by applying the techniques of a bygone age, or by relying on a limited vision that was not in accord with the new world reality, that the international community would be able to strengthen the rules of a new international political scene. Mexico was convinced that the embargo should be abolished. Pressure exerted by one country on another had never been and could never be the best way to achieve an international order based on law. Dialogue, negotiation and political settlement were the means of choice for achieving understanding.

ALOUNKEO KITTIKHOUN (Lao People's Democratic Republic) said the Assembly was once again taking up the need to end the more than 30-year-old United States embargo against Cuba which had stopped the latter's economy from being reintegrated into the world economy. His Government had never promulgated or applied laws of such a nature, as they infringed on the sovereignty of other States and on their freedom of trade and navigation. He expressed regret that no solution acceptable to both parties, was yet in sight. Instead, the blockade continued and grew stronger. Were the people of Cuba to continue to suffer more and for how long?

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He said the Cuban people were innocent and wished only to live in peace and dignity and to have economic and commercial ties with the world community. It was wrong to punish a people and to make them undergo such suffering. The international community must do everything it could to find a solution that would be acceptable to both parties. The issue was very complex, but they could be resolved. The Lao Government appealed to the two sides to enter into serious negotiations to do everything possible to solve the problem quickly.

NGO QUANG XUAN (Viet Nam) said the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam had recently stressed that the international community was increasingly becoming concerned that sanctions were being applied as a form of punishment, affecting first and foremost the lives of innocent people. That was unacceptable. The trend towards increasing dialogue and cooperation was becoming irreversible. The principles of respect for national sovereignty, independence, non-intervention in internal affairs and non-use or threat of use of force should always govern international relations. Viet Nam had fully associated itself with all resolutions adopted by the General Assembly on the embargo against Cuba.

Viet Nam maintained that all laws having extraterritorial effects must be repealed because they were detrimental not only to Cuba but also to third countries, he said. Cuba and the United States should resume negotiations as soon as possible to resolve their problems in keeping with the current trend of dialogue and cooperation. The Vietnamese people had profound sympathy for the Cuban people, and were undertaking activities aimed at helping the Cuban people overcome the consequences of the blockade.

JULIO LONDONO-PAREDES (Colombia), speaking on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement, said it had viewed with growing concern the maintenance of the embargo against Cuba imposed by the United States. Far from achieving support within the international community, the blockade had inspired growing support throughout the globe for the Government and for the sacrificed Cuban people.

He quoted from the Cartagena Declaration, established at the Eleventh Conference of Heads of State or Government of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries in October. It called upon the United States Government "to put an end to the economic, commercial and financial measures and actions against Cuba which, in addition to being unilateral and contrary to the United Nations Charter and international law, and to the principle of neighbourliness, cause huge material losses and economic damage". The United States should settle its differences with Cuba through negotiations on the basis of equality and mutual respect.

By this declaration, the Non-Aligned Movement also expressed its concern about new legislation presented to the United States Congress that would intensify and widen the embargo. It urged the United States Government to

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return to Cuba the territory now occupied by the Guantanamo Naval Base and to put an end to aggressive radio and television transmissions against Cuba. More generally, it "condemned the fact that certain countries, using their predominant position in the world economy, continue to intensify the adoption of unilateral coercive measures against developing countries, which are in clear contradiction of international law, such as trade restrictions, blockades, embargoes and the freezing of assets with the purpose of preventing those countries from exercising their right to fully determine their political, economic and social system and freely expand their international trade".

HENRIQUE R. VALLE (Brazil) said that since the end of the cold war, international relations had lost the confrontational and ideological character they once had. Global tendencies pointed to a need for increased dialogue and cooperation. Thus, coercive trade measures of any kind were not appropriate. The international community was bound to condemn unilateral measures having extraterritorial effects and affecting the legitimate interests of third parties. The application of laws and measures by any country in violation of Assembly resolution 49/9 on the embargo against Cuba and previous resolutions on the matter would be cause for concern to the international community as a whole. Such laws and measures contradicted accepted principles of international law.

That embargo only retarded the accomplishment of its declared objective -- national reconciliation, freedom and prosperity of the Cuban people and full reintegration of Cuba in the inter-American community. Such measures against Cuba, he continued, had recently been rejected in several multilateral forums, most notably the Ibero-American Summit, the Rio Group and the Non-Aligned Conference. Brazil would vote in favour of the draft resolution before the Assembly in defence of the principles of international law, the promotion of peaceful and friendly relations among States and the affirmation of the principles of cooperation.

DAUDI N. MWAKAWAGO (United Republic of Tanzania) said the international community was overwhelmingly opposed to the embargo against Cuba. His Government was gravely concerned that no progress had been made to do away with such measures as the embargo that had ominous implications for the lives of ordinary Cuban people. That embargo and its extraterritorial nature did not augur well for international peace and security. The recent Non-Aligned Summit had called for the United States to lift the embargo and to settle its difference with Cuba through negotiations and on the basis of equality and mutual respect.

He said the Non-Aligned Movement was also concerned about the new Helms/ Burton legislation before the United States Congress which sought to intensify the embargo and widen its extraterritorial nature. He trusted that a

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negotiated solution would be possible before the devastating new legislation took effect. That belief was strengthened by the proved capacity of the United States to broker peace in the Middle East and in the Balkans. Tanzania would vote for the draft resolution before the Assembly.

V. YOOGALINGAM (Malaysia) said the matter under consideration could best be dealt with by the two countries concerned. Malaysia acknowledged Cuba's right to resort to the United Nations, particularly on an issue involving extraterritoriality which impinged on basic international law principles and ran counter to a number of General Assembly resolutions adopted over the years.

As the fiftieth anniversary was being marked, it was timely for the international community to reiterate its commitment to those fundamental principles of international law, he said. All Members were obliged to support those principles which served the collective interest of all. Upholding these principles and promoting peaceful and friendly relations between nations were basic tenets governing inter-State relations. Consistent with those tenets, Malaysia would vote in favour of the draft resolution.

KAMAL KHARRAZI (Iran) said it was an undeniable right of every State to choose its political, economic, social and cultural system, without interference in any form by another State. The continuation of the economic, commercial and financial embargo against Cuba, which had inflicted serious losses, as well as economic hardship among the Cuban people, thus ran contrary to the purposes and principles of the Charter and the rule of international law.

Therefore, his Government advocated the elimination of the embargo. It also wanted to extend its support, he said, to any step that the General Assembly might wish to take to resolve the issue. "The international community should not remain silent about a situation where certain States engage in economic terrorism, and try actively to undermine the economic or political stability of another State, aiming to impose specific political and economic structures on the country."

MOHAMED A. AZWAI (Libya) said the anti-Cuba legislation of the United States had subjected Cuba to hunger and suffering. No statistics were needed to appreciate the magnitude of the damage -- especially for vulnerable groups of society such as children, the elderly and women -- resulting from the shortage of medicines, the ban on financial remittances and denial to Cuba of scientific and technological advances. Those unethical practices constituted a flagrant violation of human rights which refuted American claims of defending democracy, international legality, free trade or respecting human rights. Those practices highlight as well "the American way based on starving peoples, and taking actions that exceed national limits by pressuring

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companies and other countries to prevent them from dealing with peoples who refuse to accept its hegemony such as the Cuban people".

Libya fully appreciated the difficulties faced by Cuba as a result of the embargo and would support any measures aimed at ending it, he said. "The ball is now in the court of the United States." Either the United States would respond to international calls and seek a peaceful solution as mandated by the Charter, or it would persist in its policy of embargoes which would make it the subject of continuing international protest because its coercive measures ran counter to the aims and purposes of the United Nations, especially the establishment of friendly relations among States. "Long live the Cuban people for its resistance against the United States; it will eventually prevail."

ISSIAMET POERNOMO (Indonesia) said his Government was concerned about the differences between Cuba and the United States which had been aggravated by the imposition of a devastating embargo. Compounding the situation was the new legislation intended to further tighten the embargo to the detriment of the interests of the Cuban people. Punitive economic action of such magnitude and duration had already inflicted great hardship on them and had impeded their development aspirations. No nation should be deprived of the opportunity to participate freely and without hindrance in the economic, commercial and financial relations among States. To erect such barriers was incompatible with the objective of establishing a new and more equitable international order for a stable peace, as well as economic and social justice.

He said the continuation of the embargo might provoke a serious crisis not only for Cuba but beyond, with its repercussions for regional peace and stability. Cuban-American relations called for a new approach, taking into account the profound transformation of the global scene, including the Latin American region. Reintegration of Cuba into the regional and international economic life had now become an imperative. His Government supported the position taken by the Non-Aligned Summit.

LOVEMORE MAZEMO (Zimbabwe) said his country was deeply concerned about the recent measures taken to tighten the embargo against Cuba which came at a time when the strength of the world public opinion had made that policy increasingly untenable. The extraterritorial extension of United States legislation was inconsistent with international law and violated the sovereignty of both Cuba and its trading partners. It was both wrong and immoral for more powerful members of the Organization to impose their will on their weaker neighbours. Unilaterally conceived measures impacted negatively on the right of other States to engage freely in international trade, so the international community had the right to demand a reversal of such measures.

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He said Cuba's remarkable social progress, which matched the rich countries and which used to be the envy of people around the world, had been crippled by the embargo. Zimbabwe was in no way convinced of the ethics of a policy of withholding the free flow of food and medicine from the most vulnerable sectors of the Cuban population: young children, poor women, the elderly and the sick. The brutally harsh realities visited upon the Cuban people by the embargo should be a concern to all Members, he continued. It was hoped that the United States would reconsider its policies, resolve the differences, and put the matter to rest.

GEORGE W. ODLUM (Saint Lucia) said the history of the debate on the United States embargo against Cuba appeared to be nothing but a dialogue of the deaf. The General Assembly had voted, by increasing majorities, to end the embargo. Subsequent actions by the embargo organizers to tighten it constituted a flagrant act of disrespect for the principles and organs of the United Nations. "Saint Lucia is deeply concerned that a founding Member of this Assembly, which also enjoys the distinction of being the host country to the United Nations, should so trivialize the conclusions of the General Assembly and seek to flout the will and the expressed wish of the international community."

Concerning the Helms/Burton bill, he said the extraterritorial nature of the legislation was offensive to small countries like Saint Lucia and seriously undermined fundamental notions of sovereignty and equality -- the pillars of the Charter. Saint Lucia was also convinced that there was a strong mood for change and reform in Cuba, and that the economic blockade might be slowing down the process of economic liberalization rather than accelerating it.

NALIN SURIE (India) said his Government supported the draft resolution. Its position was consistent with that of the Non-Aligned Movement: It supported negotiations between Cuba and the United States on the basis of equality and mutual respect.

K.Z. MBATHA (South Africa) said it was deeply indebted to the people of Cuba for the selfless contribution they had made to the anti-colonial and anti-apartheid struggle in southern Africa. The embargo against Cuba was a product of the cold war. Innocent people were suffering immensely as a result. South Africa rejected "the notion that the people of Cuba should be starved into ideological submission".

South Africa was particularly concerned that additional measures to expand the scope of the embargo were being considered. Those measures might have the counter-productive effect of infringing the sovereignty of other States and the legitimate interests of their nationals.

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PATRICIA DURANT (Jamaica) said her country's policy of peaceful engagement had followed a different course from the one advocated in the United States embargo against Cuba. She believed that the Jamaican policy was the correct one if Cuba was to be peacefully integrated into the community of nations in the Hemisphere. All evidence indicated that progress was under way. She was encouraged by the extent achieved so far.

She reiterated her concern about any initiative that would further complicate regional trading arrangements through national legislation that had an overwhelming extraterritorial character. She expressed hope that in the near future the parties most directly concerned would find an amicable solution to the problem. National development, bilateral relations and the initiatives under way in the Americas would then not be inhibited by the constraints imposed by the embargo. She would vote in favour of the draft text.

VICTOR MARRERO (United States) said the fact that the General Assembly was considering the draft resolution was cause for regret. The economic embargo was a bilateral issue which should not be considered by the Assembly. The United States had the sovereign right to determine its bilateral trading relationships.

The United States policy towards Cuba had evolved considerably since the Assembly last considered the issue, he said. Responding to a wave of dangerous and uncontrolled migration from Cuba, the United States had regularized migration relations. Accords on migration had been reached which provided for legal migration to the United States of 20,000 Cubans per year. "In addition, Cubans seeking to enter the United States illegally are no longer automatically allowed to do so but are returned to Cuba."

He went on to say that on 6 October, the United States had announced a series of important measures aimed at fostering increased contacts with the Cuban people. Those measures called for, among others, the reciprocal establishment of news bureaus, greatly increased academic, cultural and scientific exchanges and facilitation of emergency family visitation. "They should contribute to the development of that civil society so noticeably lacking in Cuba, which in turn could provide a basis for the peaceful transition to democracy we believe the international community desires."

Since 1992, the United States Government had licensed over $100 million worth of private humanitarian donations from the American people and United States non-governmental organizations to the Cuban people, making the people of the United States the largest donor to the people to Cuba during that period. Telephone communications between the two countries had been dramatically improved, he continued. "The Government of the United States has indicated repeatedly over the past year that it is not wedded to indefinite

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continuation of the embargo but is prepared to reduce its sanctions in carefully calibrated ways should there be significant political and economic reform in Cuba."

Those positive developments were not reflected in the draft, he said. There had been little if any progress in Cuba to justify increased support for its Government. The human rights situation, which had been condemned by the General Assembly, remained deplorable. There were no indications that a political opening was being considered. "To the contrary, the leader of the Cuban regime made clear, during his recent attendance at the fiftieth commemorative session of the United Nations, the intention of his Government to maintain the repressive status quo." The real cause of Cuba's problems was not the embargo, but rather the Government's misguided economic policies. The United States had concluded that, unpopular as its economic sanctions might be in the General Assembly, their continued application was necessary.

Statements before Vote on Draft Resolution

YANG YANYI (China) said the embargo had caused enormous difficulties for Cuba's economy and great suffering for the Cuban people. It had also gravely impeded Cuba's opening-up and reform endeavour and had hampered its normal economic and trade relations with third countries.

His Government maintained that all countries had the right to choose their own social systems, ideologies and road of development in the light of their respective national conditions, and that that could not be infringed upon by any other country. To impose an embargo or blockade, he continued, or to resort to power politics in any other form ran counter to principles of international law and the basic norms governing State relations. He appealed to the country concerned to go along with the trend of the times and immediately repeal its laws and measures aimed a blockading Cuba's economy. He would vote in favour of the draft resolution.

JUAN A. YANEZ-BARNUEVO (Spain), speaking on behalf of the European Union, said it condemned the repeated violation of human rights in Cuba, in particular in the political field. It attached particular importance to the need for absolute respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in Cuba, as well as to the deepening of institutional and economic reforms. The Union had decided to undertake a political dialogue with Cuba to identify the most appropriate framework for future relations between the Union and Cuba that would favour the speeding up of the internal reform process.

The European Union had always rejected United States actions aimed at involving third States in the application of commercial measures that fell exclusively within the foreign or security policy of the United States. Accordingly, it had opposed United States legislative initiatives designed to

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tighten further the unilateral trade embargo against Cuba by the extraterritorial application of United States jurisdiction, in particular through extraterritorial provisions designed to discourage companies from third countries from trading with Cuba. Such measures violated the general principles of international law and the sovereignty of independent States. "The European Union cannot accept that the United States unilaterally determines or restricts the European Union's economic and commercial relations with any other State".

NIKOLAI CHULKOV (Russian Federation) said his country would vote in favour of the draft. Attempts to stifle Cuba by means of the embargo were counter-productive and would likely only worsen the situation facing the Cuban people. Such efforts could also slow down the economic reforms and democratic changes which had already begun in Cuba. The efforts to tighten the blockade and make it international in scope were very disturbing. The Helms/Burton bill came to mind.

Lifting the embargo and eliminating tension would help to move Cuba towards being a more open society. His Government believed that mutually acceptable solutions on the range of issues involved in United States-Cuba relations should be resolved through dialogue. Russia had always been guided by the principles of international law and free trade and navigation. It continued to develop its normal trade and economic relations with Cuba based on the principles of mutual advantage.

EMILIO IZQUIERDO (Ecuador) said he would vote in favour of the draft resolution because of his Government's opposition to discriminatory unilateral economic practices. Such actions impeded the resolution of differences between States by peaceful means. His Government had never established any legal or political policies that might impede relations with Cuba.

GEORGE O. LAMPTEY (Ghana) said that he would vote in favour of the resolution as it had in the past and would in the future. Whatever the circumstances or fears that formed the basis of the institution of the embargo against Cuba more than 30 years ago, the world had undergone many changes. Cuba itself had changed. He did not share the views expressed by the delegate of the United States. The will of the Cuban people should determine the order of that society. The suffering of the people must be brought to an end.

Even if one accepted that the Government of Cuba had contributed to the difficulties of the Cuban people, he said, the embargo imposed even greater suffering. He appealed to the United States to lift the embargo so that the people of Cuba could have peace and social development.

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Action on Draft

The draft resolution on the necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States against Cuba was adopted by a vote of 117 in favour to 3 against (Israel, United States, Uzbekistan), with 38 abstentions. (See Annex for details of vote.)

Explanations of Vote After Vote

EMILIO J. CARDENAS (Argentina) said Cuba was undertaking a series of significant economic reforms aimed at increasing openness. Those measures should not be discouraged. Argentina trusted that Cuba would continue those

reforms and extend them to the area of government and human rights. Argentina had voted in favour of the draft but stressed the need for democratic reforms in Cuba.

NORITERU FUKUSHIMA (Japan) said his country continued to have doubts as to whether a discussion in the Assembly might be conducive to resolving the question of the United States embargo against Cuba. The question was very complex. "Japan wonders if the resolution which has just been adopted can in fact properly address the question in all its complexity. If it cannot, the question will remain unsettled until a better way is found to achieve an appropriate solution."

GONZALO VIVAS (Venezuela) said any discriminatory commercial practice, any imposition of unilateral economic restrictions, any extraterritorial application of internal laws was incompatible with international law and the Charter. It was inadmissible to try to resolve bilateral political differences by military or economic coercion or by any other pressure that undermined the sovereignty of nations.

Venezuela believed the blockade should end and therefore had voted in favour of the resolution, but that vote should not be interpreted as support for any particular political regime. The arguments against the embargo were valid no matter the political situation of the country. The result of the vote confirmed the collective will to condemn any unilateral action against the rights of all nations to self-determination.

MICHELLE THEO JACAS (Singapore) said that last year her country had abstained on the resolution but had changed its vote in favour of the text this year. The matter should be settled bilaterally, but international relations had evolved to the point that the principles of free trade should take precedence. The application of extraterritorial measures would distort the principles of free trade. "Openness and engagement is the best way to build relations among nations."

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ADNAN MALIK (Iraq) said his country had not been able to vote on the resolution because of the embargo against Iraq. Had it had the opportunity to do so, Iraq would have voted in favour of it. The embargo represented a flagrant violation of Charter principles, since it served political ends that had no link with international peace and security. "This embargo runs counter to the most basic human and ethical values", he said, adding that such practices, which stripped people of their rights, must be ended.

ROBERT R. FOWLER (Canada) said he had again supported the resolution. Canada had followed a policy of engagement with Cuba in order to foster reforms. The extraterritorial reach of the embargo, which sought to constrain the activity of third countries such as Canada, must be opposed. Canada continued to have concerns about democracy and human rights in Cuba and would continue to press for reforms.

MOMODOU KEBBA JALLOW (Gambia) said he had voted in favour of the resolution which asserted the cherished principles enshrined in the Charter and served as a reminder of the importance of the sovereign equality of States. The continuation of the embargo against Cuba contradicted the principles on which the United Nations had been founded. In spite of the hardships caused by the embargo, Cuba continued to develop and enjoy security, he said.

Statements on Multilingualism

RICHARD BUTLER (Australia) said multilingualism was an important subject to the United Nations and to Australia. The draft resolution would be best adopted by consensus, but he doubted that there had been sufficient consultation to make that possible. He was particularly concerned that the draft had bearing upon established practices of the Organization, in particular those established under Article 101 of the Charter which concerned the employment of the Organization's staff.

He proposed two oral amendments: the first concerned the fourth preambular paragraph. He suggested that in the third line of the English version, after the words "Security Council", there be added "and that Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish shall be the official languages, and English, French and Spanish the working languages of the Economic and Social Council".

The second oral amendment concerned operative paragraph 3. His amendment would introduce the words noted below between quotation marks, so that the entire paragraph would read:

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3. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that "the appointment of the staff of the Organization shall be carried out strictly in accordance with the terms of Article 101 of the Charter and regulations established by the General Assembly pursuant to Article 101, and that", upon recruitment, personnel recruited by the different bodies of the Organization have a command of and use of at least one of the working languages of the Secretariat or one of the working languages of another body of the Organization, in the case of staff members who are to work for that body and whose tenure of appointment does not exceed two years; also requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the use of another of the six official languages is duly encouraged and taken into account, particularly when promotions and incremental steps are under consideration, in order to ensure linguistic balance within the Organization.

(annex follows)

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General Assembly Plenary Press Release GA/8983 48th Meeting (AM) 2 November 1995

ANNEX

Vote on Need To End Embargo against Cuba

The General Assembly this morning adopted a resolution on the necessity to end the United States embargo against Cuba (document A/50/L.50) by a recorded vote of 117 in favour to 3 against (Israel, United States, Uzbekistan) with 38 abstentions, as follows:

In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominica, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Ecuador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gambia, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Kazakstan, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Syria, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, Ukraine, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against: Israel, United States, Uzbekistan.

Abstaining: Albania, Armenia, Bhutan, Czech Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Federated States of Micronesia, Georgia, Germany, Guatemala, Hungary, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Morocco, Netherlands, Niger, Oman, Palau, Poland, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Swaziland, Tajikistan, The former Yuoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, United Kingdom.

Absent: Angola, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Chad, Croatia, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Fiji, Gabon, Jordan, Kuwait, Nepal, Qatar, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Senegal, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Vanuatu.

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