Sophia Tesfamariam, Ambassador of Eritrea to the UN

Havana, October 29 (ACN)-- "Cuba, instead of being a country that sponsors terrorism, promotes solidarity and international cooperation, exemplified in actions such as the sending of medical brigades and the development of vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic."

For this reason, Sophia Tesfamariam, Ambassador of Eritrea to the UN -- representing the Group of Friends in Defense of the United Nations Charter -- criticized today during the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), the inclusion of Cuba on the list of countries that supposedly support terrorism, which aggravates the impact of the blockade.

The African diplomat stated that unilateral coercive measures undermine the political independence of the archipelago and go against the principles of the United Nations Charter.

The diplomatic representative of Namibia described the blockade as a profound injustice that threatens health services and the hopes of families by exacerbating their constant difficulties.

She condemned with deep regret the worsening of the contractions between both countries and recalled that previous requests to the UNGA denote that the blockade perpetuates poverty and the ability to work for sustainable development.

For the nation of Algeria, the norms of international law guide the purposes and goals of the Charter of the United Nations Organization, and in particular, friendly relations between states, respect for non-interference and freedom in trade and navigation.

The sister country reaffirmed the unwavering commitment to end the embargo and demanded the exclusion of Cuba from the unilateral list of alleged sponsors of terrorism.

South Africa made an unwavering call to the United States to stop inflicting further harm on Cuban citizens and considered the blockade to be the main impediment to the fulfillment of the Objectives of the 2030 Agenda.

Cuba and South Africa are examples of the exemplary model of South-South cooperation, and continue to seek new areas of exchange, especially in areas such as science, education and agriculture.

The African nations present at the 79th session of the UNGA spoke in favor of the elimination of this policy and the support of all member states for the resolution presented by Cuba against the blockade, emphasizing its negative effects on the Cuban population.