Havana, Jun 3 (RHC), – The coordinator of the MediCuba-Switzerland program, Beat Schmid denounced the denial by the Swiss Bank Credit Suisse to manage a transaction by that solidarity non-government organization, describing the move as a new dimension of the US blockade against Cuba.

Schmid said that the Credit Suisse bank denied a person in Bern a money transfer to an account in Zurich to pay the annual Medicuba-Switzerland membership fee. Credit Suisse, one of the two major Swiss banks argued that they operate under tight legal regulations and thus do not allow transactions for countries under sanctions.

“The only sanction against Cuba is the US economic and financial blockade, imposed for over 50 years against the island,” Schmid noted and went on to say that the unilateral US measure is supported by the Swiss government and the European Union.

The NGO has been based in Switzerland with a portfolio of projects for the island for over 20 years now, which mainly include scientific exchange and the support of health programs, the coordinator said.

MediCuba-Switzerland was set up in 1992, since then it has invested nearly 5 million Swiss Francs in different projects on the island, which have benefited hospitals, clinics and the production of generics.

We now have 1, 600 members in Switzerland and over 4 thousand donors, who contribute part of their money to our projects, he explained and considered that the bank assumed a servile attitude in front of the United States, where the financial institution has many economic interests.

The development comes after last week the U.S. government announced it intends to fine the National Bank of Paris, BNP Paribas, 10 billion dollars for having allegedly breached the economic sanctions imposed on several countries, including Cuba.