International Community Unequivocally Rejects Blockade

Embassy of the Republic of Cuba
Press Release
26 October 2011
For the twentieth consecutive time Tuesday October 25, 2011, Cuba obtained a significant victory in the United Nations General Assembly, when once again the resolution entitled "Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba" was adopted with the almost unanimous support of UN Member States.
The resolution passed with a vote in favour of 186 countries. Only the USA and Israel voted in isolation against the text.
This result reaffirms once more the unequivocal rejection of the international community to the US blockade against Cuba and also shows its support for the just demand of the Cuban people to put an end to this illegal policy.
The economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States government against Cuba has been maintained and further tightened despite the growing and categorical demand by the international community —in particular the United Nations General Assembly— for its elimination.

The blockade violates International Law, runs contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, and constitutes a contravention of a sovereign state’s right to peace, development and security. In its essence and objectives, the blockade represents an act of unilateral aggression and a permanent threat against the stability of a nation. The blockade constitutes a massive, flagrant and systematic violation of human rights of the entire Cuban population. It also violates the constitutional rights of US citizens by denying them the freedom to travel to Cuba, and encroaches on the sovereign rights of many other states because of its extraterritorial nature.

As of December 2010, the direct economic damages to the Cuban people caused by the implementation of the United States’ economic, commercial and financial blockade, based on current prices and very conservative estimates, amounts to more than 104 billion dollars. Taking into account the extreme devaluation of the dollar against the price of gold on the international financial market during 2010 and this continual trend, the damages caused to the Cuban economy would exceed 975 billion dollars.

The blockade continues to be an absurd, illegal and morally unjustifiable policy which has not succeeded and never will succeed in undermining the Cuban people’s patriotic decision to defend its sovereignty, independence and right to self-determination. It has only succeeded in subjecting the Cuban population to shortages and needless suffering, in restricting and hindering the development of the country and in seriously damaging the Cuban economy. It is the greatest obstacle Cuba faces in its economic development.

The United States must lift it immediately and unconditionally.

ENDS

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