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At 12:12 PM, the United Nations General Assembly voted in a resounding show of support against the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba. The resolution’s full title was the “necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba”. The Assembly expressed its worries that despite its resolutions dating back to 1992 (Resolution 47/19), “the economic, commercial and financial embargo against Cuba is still in place”, and voiced concern, about “the adverse effects of such measures on the Cuban people and on Cuban nationals living in other countries”.
It recalled measures adopted by then US President Barack Obama in 2015 and 2016 “to modify several aspects of the application of the embargo, which contrast with the measures applied since 2017 to reinforce its implementation”.
The General Assembly reiterated its call for all States to refrain from promulgating and applying such restrictive laws and measures, in conformity with their obligations under the UN Charter and international law.
Click here for the full text of the resolution.
At the end of the two day debate, the Assembly voiced its overwhelming support for the resolution, with 187 countries voting in favor and only two, the US and Israel, voting against. Ukraine abstained.
The Cuban foreign minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, noted the more than 60-year blockade violated the rights of all Cuban men and women. He said the blockade separated Cuban families and deprives US citizens of their right to visit Cuba. He also pointed out the US had been pressuring banks worldwide not to deal with his nation, becoming victims of US hostility and it’s harmful impact on the global financial system.
The Ambassador of Gabon, Ambassador Aurélie Flore Koumba Pambo, voiced her country’s concern over the continuing embargo, saying it had a negative impact on culture, public health and the wellbeing of Cuba’s people. The Representative of Chile, Ambassador Paula Narváez Ojeda, reaffirmed her country’s conviction that the implementation of unliteral coercive measures runs counter to international law.
The President of the General Assembly, Dennis Francis, formally began proceedings and the resolution was passed with a resounding majority.
The US imposed the embargo in response to the revolution led by Fidel Castro and subsequent nationalization of property belonging to US citizens under the new Government. A thaw in diplomatic relations between Cuba and the Obama administration in 2016 led the US to abstain on the resolution for the first time, but the US reverted to opposing the measure in 2017.
For a look back at the state of relations in the General Assembly when the US embargo was first imposed, here’s a video from our Stories From the UN Archive series featuring the longest address in history by the youthful Cuban leader:
The resolution has been overwhelmingly passed each time, but the pattern of voting has been carefully analyzed as a snapshot of current geopolitical alliances and tensions.
The UN General Assembly has voted overwhelmingly against the US embargo of Cuba, with 187 countries in favor, the US and Israel against, and Ukraine abstaining. The Cuban foreign minister noted the more than 60-year blockade violated the rights of all Cuban men and women, while the Ambassador of Gabon and Representative of Chile voiced their countries’ concerns over the continuing embargo. The UN has called for the embargo to be lifted every year the resolution has been debated.
Click here to catch up on the discussions from Wednesday, from the UN Meetings Coverage Section
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