By María Josefina Arce
Once again the world said NO to the blockade that the United States has maintained for more than six decades against Cuba. In a historic day, the UN General Assembly pronounced for the 31st time against this genocidal measure that hinders the socio-economic development of the country and violates the human rights of an entire people.
One hundred and eighty-seven nations voted in favor of the draft resolution presented by Cuba on the need to put an end to that hostile policy which, from March 2022 to February of this year, caused damages for more than 4 BILLION 867 million dollars.
The new Cuban victory once again evidenced the isolation of the United States, which, as is traditional, was only supported in its siege of the Cuban people by its unconditional ally Israel, while Ukraine abstained.
The UN was the scene, as every year since 1992, of great solidarity with the Greater Antilles, which, as the various speakers emphasized, has the right to choose its own path, without external pressures, and is an example of humanism before the world.
Speaking before the plenary, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez affirmed that although attention to the human being is and will be a priority in Cuba, the impact of this cruel measure on the quality of life and the services provided to the population is undeniable.
In their speeches representatives of nations from around the globe and regional organizations expressed their repudiation of the criminal blockade intensified even during the COVID 19 pandemic with more than 240 measures adopted by the administration of then President Donald Trump (2017-2021).
These sanctions are maintained under the presidency of Democrat Joe Biden, to which are added the inclusion of Cuba in the arbitrary list of countries allegedly sponsoring terrorism, which further hinders the socioeconomic advancement of the Caribbean nation.
The speakers repudiated the extraterritorial nature of the U.S. blockade, which affects Cuba's trade relations with other countries and discourages foreign investment in Cuban territory.
The U.S. blockade was described as inadmissible, anachronistic, unjust, illegal and contrary to international law during the two-day debate on the Cuban draft resolution.
Already last September, in the highest level segment of the seventy-eighth session of the UN General Assembly, the call for an end to the hostile policy of the United States against Cuba was heard with insistence, a demand supported by a large part of US society.
From the first speech, which traditionally corresponds to Brazil, came the condemnation of the economic siege, which hinders access to food, medicines and other basic supplies, generating suffering among the Cuban people.
Previously, in various events such as the Summit between CELAC, Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, and the European Union, held in Brussels, Belgium, last July, the rejection of the unilateral and genocidal measure was evident.
Throughout the year, the world was also the scene of numerous actions in support of the island in its struggle against the U.S. blockade and its right to build its own life project.
The international community has been energetic in its condemnation and in its request for compliance with the multiple resolutions approved by the UN and which the United States, with its usual arrogance, has ignored and maintained a measure of war in times of peace, violating the principles of international law and the UN Charter.
