PL

Damascus, Nov 9 (RHC) Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal al-Mekdad said Wednesday that the economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed by the United States against Cuba more than 60 years ago is unjustifiable, unjust, and cruel.

This siege, like the one imposed against my country, affects innocent people and their basic needs, said the diplomat in statements to Prensa Latina after he meets with the Cuban ambassador to that Arab nation, Miguel Porto.

He added that Damascus rejected from the beginning this U.S. policy against Cuba, and welcomed the vote of 185 out of 193 member countries of the United Nations (UN) against the siege in the General Assembly last November 3.

This is evidence that Cuba has gained the whole world's respect, and all countries in Latin America, Africa, Asia, and even Europe, hold it in high esteem, the Foreign Minister stressed.

According to Al-Mekdad, Syria's condemnation of the blockade stems from its faith in the just causes of the world, and "we consider that Havana has historically and unconditionally supported the people’s fight for their liberation".

He denounced the direct intervention by the United States in the two countries, which demands more unity to face common challenges.

In Cuba, the United States has the military base of Guantanamo and in our country, they occupy the province of Hasakeh, where they plunder the riches of the Syrians in oil, wheat, and cotton, said the Minister.

He concluded his statement by describing the relations between Syria and Cuba as strategic at the popular and governmental levels and ratified the will to work to promote them in all fields.

Syria and Cuba have 57 years of relationship, which began on August 11, 1965.