The resolution, titled "Necessity of ending the economic, commercial, and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba," was approved by the 193-nation assembly with 188 votes for, three against and two abstentions.
United Nations (ANTARA News/Xinhua-OANA) - The UN General Assembly ( UNGA) on Tuesday overwhelmingly adopted a resolution to condemn the U.S. blockade of Cuba, urging Washington to end its long- running embargo against the Caribbean island country.

The resolution, titled "Necessity of ending the economic, commercial, and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba," was approved by the 193-nation assembly with 188 votes for, three against and two abstentions.

The United States, which imposed the blockade against Cuba in the early 1960s, voted against the draft resolution along with Israel and Palau. The Federated States of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands abstained, as they also did last year.

The resolution, which is not legally binding, once again urged states that have applied and continue to apply laws and measures for Cuba embargo to "take the necessary steps to repeal or invalidate them as soon as possible in accordance with their legal regime."

This is the 21st year in a row that the UNGA has adopted such a resolution by overwhelming majority to condemn the U.S. Cuba embargo. Last year`s vote was 186-2, with three abstentions.

The UNGA, as it did in the previous years, also reaffirmed "the sovereign equality of states, non-intervention and non- interference in their internal affairs and freedom of international trade and navigation."

The Tuesday resolution, introduced by Cuba, also called on all states to "refrain from promulgating and applying laws and measures" of such kind against Cuba, "in conformity with their obligations under the Charter of the United Nations and international law."

Despite the continuous adoption of similar resolutions at the UNGA, Washington has repeatedly rejected their calls and demands.

The latest resolution expressed concern about "the adverse effects of such measures on the Cuban people and on Cuban nationals living in other countries," specifically the impact of the Helms-Burton Act.

The Helms-Burton Act, passed by the U.S. Congress in 1996, further boosted the embargo by bringing third party foreign companies into the scope of U.S. sanctions against Cuba. (*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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