UN vote on lifting of embargo in Cuba
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On October 30, the United Nations General Assembly voted 184:4 in favor of the Cuban clamor to end the economic blockade imposed by the United States on the socialist Republic of Cuba since 1959.
Before the vote, Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque, in his speech before the UN body, said the blockade is now the main obstacle to the development and well-being of the Cubans and a flagrant massive and systematic violation of the people’s rights.
Four countries went against Roque’s call to end the blockade and these are the US, Israel, Marshall Islands and Palau. Micronesia abstained, while El Salvador, Iraq and Albania were absent during the General Assembly.
Of the 184 countries voting for the urgent end of the blockade, 17 from North Africa and Middle East; 47 Sub-Saharan Africa; 32 Latin America and the Carribean; 34 from Asia and Oceana; 27 Western Europe and other States; and 27 in Eastern Europe.
This is the 16th year that the UN general assembly voted for the lifting of the economic blockade. From last year, two countries, Nicaragua and Ivory Coast were added to those in favor of the lifting, while Albania’s positive vote last year turn around against Cuba. (For complete list: http//www.granma.cu/ingles/2007/noviembre/1un5/resultado.html # Lifted from the Granma International/Online Edition
