Crushing Defeat of US blockade of Cuba at UN General Assembly

from: http://www.cubanews.ain.cu/2007/1030derrotabloqueo.htm

Havana, Oct 30(acn) For the sixteen consecutive time, United Nations members voted against the US economic, financial and commercial blockade of Cuba. The resolution presented by the island received 184 votes in favor, one more than in 2006, four against and one abstention.

President Bush's latest speech calling for a strengthening of the economic war on the Cuban people triggered an opposite reaction and the White House was suddenly left alone except for its own vote, that of its loyal ally Israel, and the vote of the Marshall Islands and Palau. Only Micronesia abstained.

The Bush administration tried in vain to "persuade" UN members prior and during the General Assembly sessions, but the pressure only worked on Albania, which did not show up, and Iraq and El Salvador whose representatives left the room before taking the vote.

Several countries spoke up against the blockade. Pakistan took the floor on behalf of the Group of 77, while Egypt did so representing the Non Aligned Movement, and the Bahamas on behalf of CARICOM.

Venezuela, Mexico, Viet Nam and South Africa stood up alongside Cuba as well, as did, in their speeches, the representatives of China, Russia, India, Uganda, Bolivia, Libya, Tanzania, Zambia, Nicaragua and Zimbabwe.

Cuba's Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque called on UN members to support the report entitled "Necessity to end the economic, financial and commercial blockade imposed by Washington against Cuba," considering the blockade as part of an extra territorial and illegal policy, a genocide. The draft resolution, which had already been circulated among the 192 member states, is supported by an annual report by the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, which reflects the disagreement of 120 countries and institutions in relation to the US aggressive policy against Cuba.

"Cuba will never give up. On the contrary, Cuba will fight on because by defending the rights of their people it is defending the rights of all the peoples represented by the UN General Assembly," he concluded.