Cuba wins UN vote against US embargo – Daily Trust

The UN General Assembly on Wednesday adopted a brand new decision calling for an finish to the US embargo against Cuba, though assist for the communist-ruled island fell to its lowest stage in three many years.

Nearly yearly since 1992 comparable resolutions have been put to a vote and handed, however assist for the measure this yr was markedly decrease.

The decision, which has known as for lifting the financial, commerce and monetary embargo against the island, obtained 130 votes in favor, with 17 against and 25 abstentions. It was the bottom stage of assist since 1995.

This yr’s Cuban decision included a reference to the impression of restrictions on gasoline provides to the island imposed by the United States since January.

In current weeks, Havana accused Washington of mounting a diplomatic offensive to stress nations into withdrawing their assist for the Cuban decision.

“The world has once again spoken out overwhelmingly against the blockade, even despite the most blatant pressure and blackmail from the US to change the course of this vote,” Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel mentioned in a celebratory submit on X Wednesday, later including that the US engages in “gangster-like coercion.”

Speaking in New York, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez accused Washington of looking for to “determine the nation’s destiny” and “seize” its wealth.

In the minutes earlier than the vote, US ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz denied that Cuba was beneath a blockade and mentioned “The plight of the Cuban people is exclusively the fault of this corrupt communist regime.”

“The reality is, today as we speak, there is no ring of US Navy warships around Cuba. Their ports are open. In recent months, data shows that shipments have arrived,” from world wide, he added.

The vote got here a day after a dramatic shouting match on the ground of the UN General Assembly that at one level noticed Rodriguez method Waltz and shout, “You are a liar!” as Waltz shouted for him to again away.

Amid the interruptions, the chair briefly suspended the session and instructed each nations’ representatives to return to their locations.

In his speech arguing against the decision on Tuesday, Waltz held up footage of Cuban leaders previous and current, together with Diaz-Canel, carrying luxurious watches, prompting the Cuban delegation to repeatedly smack their desk in protest and interrupt.

Waltz later held up satellite tv for pc photographs and detailed luxurious estates, boats and holidays that he claimed the Castro household and Cuban officers get pleasure from.

“The regime can never find enough fuel for Cuban ambulances. They can never find enough fuel for Cuban buses. But when the Castro family, the elites that are sitting at that table, want to go yachting, suddenly, it’s no problem.” Waltz mentioned.