Swiss Lower Chamber urges U.S. to end blockade against Cuba

Bern, March 10 (RHC)-- The National Council of the Swiss Parliament endorsed Switzerland's active role towards the end of the U.S. economic, commercial and financial blockade against Cuba.  The legislative body approved, by 98 votes, a document put forward by the Foreign Policy Committee. 

According to the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MINREX) website, the statement demands Switzerland to play a more active role in UN bodies in order to pressure the new U.S. administration headed by Joe Biden; an idea that corresponds to the worldwide claim that demands the elimination of Cuba from the spurious list of countries that sponsor terrorism and calls for a change of U.S. policy towards the Caribbean nation, according to the website of the Cuban Embassy in Switzerland and in Liechtenstein.

It also recalls the 28 resolutions adopted by the UN General Assembly, denouncing this policy, which was aggravated during Donald Trump administration.  Likewise, measures to curb the effects of the U.S. siege on trade and investment between Switzerland and Cuba were requested.

The text was first approved by the Committee in early November 2020, following the ‘Unblock Cuba’ petition campaign launched by the Swiss-Cuba Association and MediCuba Switzerland, together with six other organizations.  Thousands of signatures were symbolically presented last December 10th, International Human Rights Day, to emphasize that the U.S. blockade constitutes a flagrant violation of the human rights of the Cuban people.