General Assembly Overwhelmingly Adopts Resolution Calling on United States to End Economic, Commercial, Financial Embargo against Cuba

The General Assembly today reiterated its call on the United States to end its economic, commercial and financial embargo against Cuba, as Cuba’s Minister for Foreign Affairs called the blockade against his Government “commercial warfare” and “a crime of genocide”.

The 193-member Assembly adopted its annual resolution on the “Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba” (document A/79/L.6), by a recorded vote of 187 in favour and 2 against (United States, Israel), with 1 abstention (Republic of Moldova).  It began its debate on the topic on Tuesday.  (See Press Release GA/12549).

By the terms of today’s adopted resolution, the Assembly urged other States that have and continue to apply laws or measures in support of the blockade on Cuba to repeal or invalidate them as soon as possible.

“How long will this go on?”  Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, Cuba’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, asked the Assembly, recalling that the body has urged for an end to the blockade since 1992. 

“Let Cuba live; let Cuba live in peace,” he emphasized, calling the blockade “a flagrant, massive and systematic violation of the human rights of our people” and “the most encompassing, comprehensive and longest-standing system of unilateral coercive measures ever applied against any country”.

Mr. Parrilla recalled how from 18 to 23 October Cuban families had no electricity, except for maybe a few hours.  “Many Cuban families lacked running water; hospitals worked under emergency conditions, schools and universities suspended their classes; [and] businesses interrupted their activity,” he said.

Since 2019, the United States has adopted harsher measures of “economic warfare” designed to prevent the supply of fuel and spare parts needed to maintain Cuba’s power plants and electric grid.  “President Joseph Biden's administration tends to claim that its policy is to help and support the Cuban people,” he said, also asking:  “Who would believe such an assertion?”

 The damage done to Cuba since the blockade was imposed some 62 years ago amounts to $1.499 trillion, considering the United States dollar value against the gold price, he said.  During the last 18 years of the blockade, Cuba has lost $252 trillion.

“Imperialism is warning the whole world that any nation daring to firmly defend its sovereignty and to build its own future will pay a price for that rebelliousness,” he added.

“The right to food is a human right,” he went on to say, adding that the accumulated cost of four months of economic blockade is equivalent to $1.6 billion.  That amount would be enough to guarantee for an entire year the “delivery to all Cuban families a ration food basket”.  With $12 million, Cuba could buy the insulin necessary to treat all its diabetic patients.  The losses incurred by the blockade within a single day exceed that amount.  “The United States government is perfectly aware of the direct and indirect impact that its policy has on the Cuban health system,” and the “consequences of incomplete treatments, delayed treatments and postponed surgeries,” he said.

Countering that, the United States representative, explaining his vote against the resolution, said:  “The United States stands with the Cuban people”.

Approximately 1,000 unjustly detained political prisoners remain behind bars in Cuba — more than at any point in that country's recent history, he recalled.  “Nearly 700 of those detentions are connected to the July 11, 2021, historic protests,” he added.  “These people have languished in horrible conditions in Cuban jails for exercising their freedom of expression and freedom of peaceful assembly.”

The Cuban Government has dragged its feet in responding to several requests inquiring into conditions of human rights, including freedom of expression, freedom of religion and the freedom of peaceful assembly.  “Some of these requests have remained pending for more than 10 years,” he told Member States.  Sanctions are one element of the broader effort to advance democracy and promote respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in Cuba.  Taking stock of the myriad challenges facing the Cuban people, the United States’ sanctions include exemptions relating to exports of food, medicine and other basic goods to the island country.

Other speakers condemned the blockade against Cuba as well, including Bolivia’s delegate who said that the disregard for these yearly resolutions demonstrates that some Member States have a blatant lack of respect. “They don't respect the decisions that don't suit them,” she added.  The “immoral economic, commercial and financial embargo” must be lifted immediately.  “The struggle of the Cuban people is also one of Latin America and the Caribbean, and it is a struggle of all the peoples of the world,” she added.

Iran’s delegate said that the inhumane sanctions and blockade imposed under the pretext of promoting democracy represents the most unjust and prolonged system of unilateral measures ever applied against any country.  “Cuba sanctions are in no way short of a military blockade, which is prohibited under modern international law,” he said.  The embargo against Cuba must end immediately and unconditionally.  This will not only bring relief to the Cuban people. It will also send a message that the era of economic terrorism must come to an end.

The representative of Hungary, speaking for the European Union, in its capacity as observer, and in explanation of vote after the vote, said that lifting the embargo could make economic reforms more effective and facilitate the opening of the Cuban economy to the benefit of the Cuban people.  The European Union will continue to look at ways to work with Cuba on potential projects in various areas such as human rights.  “The United States embargo and connected measures do not contribute to promoting these aims.  On the contrary, they impede their achievement,” she said, adding that that is why the regional bloc voted in favor of the text.

“The Cuban people have the right to participate in global economy, free from restrictive measures,” said the representative of Timor Leste.  Cuba has also demonstrated international solidarity, including by providing invaluable assistance to his country.  A collaborative approach can lead to a sustainable outcome benefiting Cuba, the United States and the overall international community in a just world where sovereignty is respected, he stressed.

The Assembly today also continued its debate on the International Court of Justice which it began 25 October.  (See Press Release GA/12647.)

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