UN General Assembly adopts resolution, calling for end to US embargo against Cuba

UNITED NATIONS - The UN General Assembly on Tuesday voted overwhelmingly to adopt a resolution, calling for ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States against Cuba.

Altogether 191 UN member states voted in favor of the non-binding resolution, while the United States and Israel voted against it.

It is the 24th time that the 193-member UN General Assembly has adopted such a resolution on this topic. What's different this time around is the fact that Washington has restored diplomatic ties with Havana.

While welcoming the re-establishment of diplomatic relations between the governments of Cuba and the United States, the annual resolution initiated by Cuba once again stressed the necessity of ending the US embargo on the island country.

Full diplomatic ties were restored between the two countries as an agreement to resume normal relations took effect on July 20, 2015. The United States has not repealed the embargo yet.

Cuba estimates the trade embargo, which the country describes as more of a blockade because it blocks third nations from doing business with the island country, has caused economic damages amounting to more than 830 billion US dollars.

"The lifting of the blockade will be the essential element that will give some meaning to the progress achieved in the last few months in the relations between both countries and shall set the pace towards normalization," said Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, foreign minister of Cuba.

"Any attempt to condition the lifting or modification of the blockade to the introduction of internal changes in Cuba will be in no way acceptable nor productive," he told the General Assembly.

Washington decreed the blockade against Havana officially on Feb. 3, 1962, following the intensification of the political differences that emerged between the US and the fledgling socialist government led by Fidel Castro.

Ronald D. Godard, US senior area advisor for western hemisphere affairs, told the General Assembly that "although normalization will be a long and complex road, we've made considerable progress."

"We regret therefore that the government of Cuba has chosen to proceed with its annual resolution. The text fell short of reflecting the significant steps that have been taken and the spirit of engagement President Obama has championed," he said. "As a result, the United States cannot support it."

"We remain committed to the hard work of pursuing genuine bilateral cooperation with Cuba for the benefit of both countries, and for the hemisphere," he said.