UN calls for removal of trade and economic embargo against Cuba

Caribbean Community ((CARICOM) countries Thursday joined the majority of the international community in calling on the United States to end its decades’ old trade and economic embargo against Cuba.

UN resolution adapted

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolution, piloted by Havana, calling for an end to the embargo that Washington imposed on the Communist Caribbean country ever since the late Fidel Castro in 1958 overthrew the Fulgencio Batista regime.

The UNGA by an overwhelming majority rejected moves by Washington to criticise Cuba’s human rights record, making it the 27th time that the 193-nation assembly has issued the call to lift the embargo imposed in 1962.

USA and Israel vote against

Israel joined the United States in voting against the resolution that was presented by Cuba. Ukraine and Moldova did not vote on the resolution that was approved by a 189 to two margin with no abstentions.

Last year, the resolution calling for an end to the embargo was adopted by a vote of 191 to two.

Washington also failed to get support for eight amendments criticizing Cuba’s human rights record with the Donald Trump administration pointing to Havana’s repression of political opponents and curbs of freedom of expression as a reason for maintaining the economic embargo.