Editorial

The United Nations General Assembly has once again voted for the 18th year in a row, a resolution entitled “Necessity to End the Economic, Commercial and Financial Blockade Imposed by the United States against Cuba.” In recent months, there has also been a growing international attention on the bilateral relations between US and Cuba. Obviously, the call to eliminate the blockade against Cuba and to end the hostile policy against a small country is ever more strong and firm.

For  almost 50 years, the United States has systematically  applied a ferocious blockade on Cuba; in fact a real economic war that many see as designed to plunge the Cuban people in hunger and despair. Never before in the history of humanity has any nation been submitted to such a hostile policy as that of the successive US governments against the Cuban people.  To date that policy of economic, commercial and financial blockade of Cuba – from all possible angles, including pressure on third countries, has not only been constant but has been increased and reinforced despite the virtually unanimous opposition of the entire world.

The blockade has not only deprived Cuba of essential supplies coming from abroad, but also of markets for its products; it has impeded its access to food and medicine, medical equipment, and sanitary means to combat blights and diseases. In general terms it has obstructed economic development in all contexts and has generated damage on property. With the absolute compliance with Resolution 63/7, adopted by the UN General Assembly on October 29, 2008, in a vote of 185 nations in favour and only 3 opposed, the government of the United States, far from lifting the economic, commercial and financial embargo it had imposed on the Republic of Cuba, has maintained in effect the laws, regulations and practices that sustain it.  It has continued to reinforce the political, administrative and repressive mechanisms for it’s more efficacious and deliberate implementation

It is therefore unfortunate that the United States that claims to be a champion of freedom and democracy is still paying blind eye to the fundamental rights of the people of Cuba even after all attempts by the UN to lift the blockade. The people of Cuba deserve all rights to economic growth prosperity and development; they have right to international association and recognition. Failure to uplift the embargo on Cuba tantamounts  to denying the common persons in that country the right to development. We hope that the Obama administration will take note of these realities and permit Cuba to enjoy the pleasures of development.

Whatever the case may be, the embargo violates International Law.  It is contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter.  It constitutes a transgression on the right to peace, development and security of a sovereign state. In its essence and its aims, it is an act of unilateral aggression and a permanent threat against the stability of a country.  It constitutes a flagrant, massive and systematic violation of the rights of an entire people.  It is also in violation of the constitutional rights of the American people since it denies them the freedom to travel to Cuba.  

Moreover, it violates the sovereign rights of many other states because of its extra-territorial nature. Supporting the Cuban resolution would therefore be an act against aggression and the use of force. It would be an act in favour of peace, people’s rights and hopes; it would even be an act of justice towards the people of Cuba.