United Nations, October 15 (RHC)-- Cuba has requested the cancellation a US-sponsored event scheduled for Tuesday at the Economic and Social Council Chamber (ECOSOC) at UN Headquarters in New York.
The event, announced by the US State Department last Friday, seeks to launch an anti-Cuban campaign under the title “Jailed for What” on the supposed existence of some 130 political prisoners on the island.
According to Prensa Latina news agency, in a letter sent to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, Cuba's permanent representative to the UN, Anayansi Rodríguez, has requested an internal investigation at the UN to determine who is responsible for the violations of the rules regarding the use of conference rooms at the international body.
Rodriguez described the convening of the event as an attempt by the United States to tarnish the name of the United Nations in an act against a member state in contradiction of the principles and purposes of the UN Charter.
She also warned that Cuban authorities will hold the UN Secretariat accountable for any incident that may occur if the announced event is held.
The diplomat also requested the support of the Non Aligned Movement (NAM) member states to boycott the event if it is allowed to be held by UN authorities.
The United States alleges the supposed existence of political prisoners and accuses the Cuban government of being responsible for violations of their human rights, as well as the continued use of arbitrary detentions.
The ambassador said that Cuba rejects these allegations in the strongest terms, and noted that the event organized by the United States 'constitutes a political farce of the worst kind, built on false arguments and with participants with a dark record in the service of a foreign power.'
The US move comes just weeks before the General Assembly is scheduled to hold its annual vote on ending the US economic blockade on Cuba, which last year was adopted by a vote of 191 to 2, with only the United States and Israel voting against