Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, November 05, 2003
UN rejects US embargo against Cuba
The four-decade old embargo by the United States against Cuba was stoutly rejected Tuesday by the UN General Assembly with an overwhelmingly passed resolution.
The four-decade old embargo by the United States against Cuba was stoutly rejected Tuesday by the UN General Assembly with an overwhelmingly passed resolution.
The resolution received 179 in favor and two abstentions. The United States, Israel and the Marshall Islands voted against it, which calls for a prompt end of the trade and travel embargo since Fidel Castro defeated the CIA-backed assault at the Bay of Pigs in1961.
Speaking to the assembly before the vote, Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Roque said the blockade against Cuba qualifies "a crime of genocide."
"The blockade is a flagrant, massive and systematic violation of the human rights of the Cuban people," he said, adding it is also deleterious to the rights of the American people, the rights of the Cubans who live in the United States and the rights of those nationals from other countries who wish to trade with and invest freely in his country.
Deputy Permanent Representative of China Zhang Yishan said thatthe embargo is aimed at forcing Cuba to give up its "independentlychosen road of development," and must be lifted.
"The United States has claimed that these (sanctions) are aimedat enhancing the so-called democracy and human rights," he said, "but in reality, they have seriously constrained Cuba in its nation-building efforts to eradicate poverty."