UN opposes US blockade of Cuba

UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 30 — The United Nations today, by 184 votes, expressed its opposition to the blockade maintained against Cuba for almost half a century by the United States.

A resolution calling for the end of that economic, commercial and financial blockade gained one more vote since last year (Nicaragua), and the only votes against the resolution came from the United States, Israel, Palau and the Marshall Islands, plus one abstention. (PL)

Translated by Granma International

For the 16th consecutive occasion: International community rejects the economic war against Cuba

By Tomás A. Granados

UNITED NATIONS, October 30, (PL).—Cuba has won a resounding victory in its sustained resistance to the economic blockade imposed by the United States by receiving the virtually unanimous support of the world community to its demand to put an end to that measure.

International community rejects the economic war against Cuba

In the vote on a resolution at the end of the debate in the UN General Assembly on the issue of the U.S. blockade imposed on Cuba, 184 of the 192 member states of this international organization asked Washington to halt that practice.

For Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Pérez Roque this is a historic victory that has special value given that it took place just a few days after President George W. Bush called on the international community to support his blockade policy.

The resolution passed today for the 16th consecutive time highlights the "Necessity of Ending the Economic, Commercial and Financial Blockade Imposed by the United States on Cuba."

As was the case in last year’s debate, the U.S. vote against the resolution was accompanied by Israel, the Marshall Islands and Palau, plus the abstention of Micronesia.

Last year, the resolution against that coercive measure imposed on Cuba by the U.S. government had 183 votes in favor, in itself a record compared to earlier years.

More than 20 countries and representatives of UN groups, including the Non-Aligned Movement, the G-77, CARICOM and MERCOSUR expressed their positions against the blockade during the debate.

Translated by Granma International

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Rory's Comments:

In its usual manner, the 'democratic' Press and mainstream media of the UK declared a near total news blackout on this story with only the Communist MORNING STAR newspaper reporting it.

In its Morning News, BBC News 24 commented upon it in passing, smugly stating that the UN vote "had no legal sanction."

The NEW YORK TIMES disposed of the story in 87 words.

How the capitalist media hates it when things don't go quite their way!