The Italian city of Rende condemns the U.S. blockade against Cuba

Rome, Oct 27 (RHC) The City Council of the Italian city of Rende, in the southern region of Calabria, approved a resolution against the U.S. economic, commercial and financial blockade of Cuba, a spokesman said Thursday.

Marco Papacci, president of the National Association of Italy-Cuba Friendship (Anaic), indicated in declarations to Prensa Latina that the municipal council of Rende adhered to a call of his group to condemn that unilateral U.S. measure against the island.

The proposal was presented to the assembly by member of the council Lisa Sorrentino, who expressed that it is an "action in solidarity with the request to the United Nations General Assembly by the Republic of Cuba" to demand the end of the blockade.

"The effects of this unilateral measure on the development of Cuba and its people force that country to subsist under negative conditions."

"Despite this, the efforts made, starting with education and health, have so far allowed the formation of a country universally considered to be at the forefront, among others, in the scientific and health fields", the appeal stresses.

It also indicates that this aggressive action by Washington, in violation of international norms, particularly since the activation of Titles III and IV of the Helms-Burton Act, seeks to "limit the spaces of free economic and commercial exchange in Cuba".

This blockade "acts negatively not only on the Cuban economy but also on that of other countries" due to its extraterritorial effects, with "the application of fines and sanctions that harm companies that have economic and commercial relations with Cuba", it adds.

The same affects entities of this nation and the region, for which it demands that the government of Italy assume "a firm position in support of the Cuban revolution and take an active part so that this position is shared with the other countries of the European Union".

This is a "moral rather than political" act, concluded Sorrentino at the end of the presentation of this resolution condemning the unilateral economic, commercial, financial, scientific, and cultural blockade of the United States against Cuba. (Source: PL)