UN condemns US embargo on Cuba

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Gulf Today

UN condemns US embargo on Cuba
October 29, 2015

UNITED NATIONS: A total 191 members of the 193-member UN General Assembly voted in support of a resolution condemning an economic embargo imposed by the US on Cuba, saying that existence of such restrictions undermines multilateralism and credibility of the UN.

In a near unanimous vote, the General Assembly on Tuesday adopted the resolution renewing its call for an end to the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the US against Cuba, while also acknowledging the restoration, after nearly 50 years, of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Israel and the US were the only two countries to vote against the resolution, which got the support of the remaining 191 UNGA members.

The Assembly welcomed the resumption of diplomatic relations between the US and Cuba, announced last July, and the willingness of US President Barack Obama to work towards the lifting of the economic, financial and trade embargo against Cuba.

Read more: http://gulftoday.ae/portal/8ff06923-e668-4130-97c8-07052b6d0776.aspx

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Only one other country in the United Nations supports the U.S. embargo of Cuba

by Casey Tolan
October 28, 2015

The United Nations General Assembly voted overwhelmingly on Tuesday to condemn the continued U.S. trade embargo of Cuba—and only one other country in the assembly backed the blockade.

The General Assembly voted 191 in favor and 2 opposed for the symbolic resolution calling the policy illegitimate. The only two countries voting against the resolution were the United States and, perhaps unsurprisingly, Israel.

A similar resolution has been passed by the General Assembly every year for the past 23 years. This is the first time that the demand for ending the blockade looks like it could become reality.

While President Obama has made moves to ease travel and commerce between the U.S. and Cuba, and both countries re-opened their respective embassies this summer, lifting the trade embargo will require approval by Congress. Legislation to change the 55-year policy is working its way through the legislature, where it faces opposition from some Republicans.

More:
http://fusion.net/story/222868/united-nations-cuba-trade-embargo-vote/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=/section/news/feed/

[Judi Lynn]

1. 191 Countries Just Slammed the US’ Devastating Decades-Long Embargo of Cuba

191 Countries Just Slammed the US’ Devastating Decades-Long Embargo of Cuba
Claire Bernish
October 28, 2015

(ANTIMEDIA) The entire world slammed the United States for its 55-year-long economic strangulation of Cuba when 191 countries — every U.N. General Assembly member except the U.S. and its notorious ally Israel — voted to terminate the antiquated embargo.

Cuba introduced the largely symbolic annual resolution demanding relief from the crippling U.S.-imposed “blockade” that has contentiously left its citizens stranded in the 1950s. Though the yearly vote cannot be enforced, clearly America and Israel stand against virtually the entire planet by insisting such incapacitating constraints continue to have any merit.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez starkly explained the true results of the embargo: “The human damage it has caused is inestimable.”

Considering the recent opening of diplomatic relations, lifting of travel restrictions between the longstanding Cold War rivals — not to mention removal of Cuba from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism — an extension of the economic throttle seems all but impossible to justify. For each of the past 23 years similar measures to lift the embargo have been proposed, however, they’ve consistently been blocked by the U.S. and Israel — despite international outcry.

More:
http://theantimedia.org/191-countries-just-slammed-the-us-devastating-decades-long-embargo-of-cuba/

[Judi Lynn]

2. Despite US objection, UN overwhelmingly condemns embargo on Cuba

Despite US objection, UN overwhelmingly condemns embargo on Cuba
csmonitor icon

The US was one of two countries to vote 'no' against a UN resolution condemning its embargo on Cuba.

By Edith M. Lederer, Associated Press October 27, 2015

UNITED NATIONS — The United States on Tuesday voted against a U.N. resolution condemning its embargo on Cuba, even though President Barack Obama has called on Congress to lift the trade restrictions. The vote was the first since the U.S. and Cuban leaders agreed to restore diplomatic ties last December, and the U.S. had considered taking the unprecedented step of abstaining.

The General Assembly voted 191-2 to condemn the commercial, economic and financial embargo against Cuba, the highest number of votes ever for the measure. Only Israel joined the United States in opposing the resolution, and when the vote lit up on the screen many diplomats jumped to their feet in a standing ovation.

General Assembly resolutions are nonbinding and unenforceable but the annual exercise — now in its 24th year — has given Cuba a global stage to demonstrate America's isolation on the embargo and its Cuba policy.

The Associated Press reported last month that the United States considered abstaining in hopes of pressuring Congress to end the embargo.

More:
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/2015/1027/Despite-US-objection-UN-overwhelmingly-condemns-embargo-on-Cuba

[arcane1]

3. Potentially stupid question: why does Israel care? Is this just the usual mutual dicketry?

[Judi Lynn]

4. Probably a small suggestion to them, in the interest of keeping their humongous financial support

from the U.S. taxpayers, a little subtle arm-twisting.

They have generally been the country to stick with the US every October when the UN General Assembly votes to condemn the horrendous embargo on Cuba. Over the years, occasionally, countries like the Marshall Islands, Palau, or even Guatemala (whom the US has subsidized heavily since the US Marines overthrew its democratically elected President Jacobo Arbenz in 1954, heaving upon it incredible amounts of armaments, helicopter gunships, etc., everything the right-wing dictators wanted to commit genocide against its Mayan indigenous people). Maybe Micronesia.

The tiny, absolutely helpless, poor, and desperate countries, other than Israel, have at times been coerced into holding up their tiny hands to support the US when needed during these votes. At some points some countries started getting braver, and opting to abstain from voting altogether.

Any reason Israel would support the US in this goddawful embargo would be to keep the gravy train going, and all the military gifts.

[arcane1]

5. That's what I figured, the same-old.

Sometimes those poorer countries get talked into joining one of our freedom-spreading "coalitions" too

[EX500rider]

6. Quid pro quo

The US helps Israel in UN votes all the time.

[Waitsman]

7. Typical

I have a sailboat and want to go visit Cuba, so have studied our laws on who can and can't go. First, you have to make an application to OUR government, showing you have one of the 10 occupations we approve. Among them of course, is being a minister going there to spread the Christian view of God. If you do qualify, it is against our laws to spend money there. After all these years, we are still trying to starve Cuba into submission so that our corporations can move in and take over, just as they have here.

[elmac]

8. The pres would lift the embargo in a heartbeat if he could

Republican thugs would never go along with it. It should have been lifted decades ago, its a throwback from the cold war and only hurt the people of both countries economically and socially.