Havana, September 10 (RHC)-- Cuba lashed out Friday at the United States' 54-year-old policy of blockade, calling it absurd, illegal, in breach of international law, and a human rights abuse -- and asserting that it had cost 4.7 billion dollars from April 2015 to March of this year.  This in spite of the historic rapprochement between the two nations.

"The embargo is the main cause behind of our economy's problems, the main obstacle to our development," Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said during a press conference presenting the latest figures in connection with the effects that the U.S. anti-Cuba policy has had on the island, its people, and its economic performance. “No sector of the Cuban economy escapes the consequences of the U.S. blockade,” said Minister Rodriguez.

U.S. President Barack Obama has chipped away at certain restrictions on Cuba, but its impact is limited. There are ample executive powers available, which the U.S. president could use to continue modifying the application of the blockade, charged Rodriguez.

Cuba has calculated the overall cost of the U.S. blockade, at current prices, as standing at 125.8 billion dollars.

The Cuban foreign minister’s statements came during the announcement by the Cuban government that it will again be presenting this year a resolution at the U.N. General Assembly demanding end of the U.S. blockade.

Cuba has sponsored resolutions on the issue since 1992. Last year, again for the 24th consecutive year, the vast majority of the international community represented at the U.N. General Assembly demonstrated its strong rejection of the blockade policy. A total of 191 UN member states voted in support of the Cuban resolution, with only the U.S. and Israel voting against.

The Cuban anti-blockade resolution this year will be presented on October 26th.