U.N. Again Urges U.S. To End Cuba Embargo

Annual Resolution Is Mainly Symbolic; Cuban Government Hails Motion As A Victory

(AP)  The U.N. General Assembly voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to urge the United States to end its 46-year-old trade embargo against Cuba after its foreign minister accused the U.S. of stepping up its "brutal economic war" to new heights and vowed to "never surrender."

"The blockade had never been enforced with such viciousness as over the last year," Felipe Perez Roque told the assembly, accusing U.S. President George W. Bush's administration of adopting "new measures bordering on madness and fanaticism" that have not only hurt Cuba but interfered with its relations with at least 30 countries.

It was the 16th straight year that the 192-member world body approved a resolution calling for the U.S. economic and commercial embargo against Cuba to be repealed "as soon as possible."

Delegates in the 192-member General Assembly chamber burst into applause when the vote in favor of the resolution flashed on the screen - 184 to 4 with 1 abstention. That was a one-vote improvement over last year's vote of 183 to 4 with 1 abstention.

In addition to the U.S., Israel, Palau and the Marshall Islands voted against the resolution while Micronesia abstained. Albania, El Salvador and Iraq did not vote.

The annual vote came less than a week after Bush delivered his first major address on Cuban policy in four years, attacking Cuba's government and challenging the international community to help the people of the communist island shed Fidel Castro's rule and become a free society.

Perez Roque called the vote the international community's answer to Bush's speech.

"I think it is an historic victory. It is an Olympic record in the General Assembly," the Cuban foreign minister said in an Associated Press interview. "Today, the international community have expressed their support to the Cuban right to be an independent nation, to be respected in its right to self-determination."

Even though the resolution is not legally binding, Perez Roque said the vote "has a very important ethical and moral meaning" because it supported the Cuban struggle against the embargo and strengthened "our resilience and our decision, really, to resist and finally to defeat the blockade."

In Havana, state television gleefully lead with news of "a resounding victory for Cuba" and said the island had received "the resounding support of the international community." Celebratory music blared and a waving Cuban flag was shown over the words "Viva Cuba Libre!" or "Long Live Cuba!"

The United States has no diplomatic relations with Cuba, lists the country as a state sponsor of terror and has long sought to isolate it through travel restrictions and a trade embargo, which has been tightened over Bush's two terms. This year, the U.S. stepped up enforcement of financial sanctions, which Perez Roque strongly denounced.

The Bush administration sees Castro's failing health as an opening for change. Little is different under Raul Castro, 76, and Bush said in his speech that the U.S. will make no accommodations with "a new tyranny."

Speaking just before Tuesday's vote, U.S. diplomat Ronald Godard said "it is long past time that the Cuban people enjoy the blessings of economic and political freedom."

"Instead of voting in favor of this resolution condemning the United States for declining to engage in unrestricted financial transactions with a regime that deprives its own people of the fundamental human rights that this body is charged with protecting, we urge member states to oppose and condemn the Cuban government's internal embargo on freedom, which is the real cause of the suffering of the Cuban people."

Perez Roque, in his address, accused the United States of violating international law, depriving Cuban children of medication, punishing anyone doing business with Cuba, and even preventing Cuban writers from participating in a book fair in Puerto Rico, which he called "a barbaric act."

He expressed Cuba's solidarity with U.S. movie producer Oliver Stone, who was attacked by the U.S. government for filming in Cuba, and activist director Michael Moore, who is being investigated for visiting Cuba.

"It is McCarthyism of the 21st century," Perez Roque said, referring to the political witch hunt that U.S. Sen. Joseph McCarthy carried out against suspected American communists in the 1950s.

"Without doubt, as you well know, the brutal economic war that has been imposed on Cuba hasn't only affected Cubans," he said, pointing to banks and companies in many countries that have been hurt by the U.S. financial measures.

Perez Roque accused the U.S. of ignoring the 15 previous resolutions "with arrogance and political blindness," but he said despite the continuing harsh sanctions, Cuba would not be cowed.

"Cuba will never surrender," he said. "It fights and will fight."

[terrorislam4]

more terrorislam sponsored genocide

Thinktank accuses Saudi regime over hate literature

The controversial state visit of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, which got under way today with a lavish ceremony, has prompted new criticism over his regime''''s alleged role in distributing hate literature in British mosques.
The Policy Exchange thinktank found extremist literature in a quarter of the 100 mosques and Islamic institutions it visited, including London Central Mosque in Regent''''s Park, which is funded by Saudi Arabia.

Some of the literature advocated violent jihad, murdering gay people and stoning adulterers, its researchers found.
http://politics.guardian.co.uk/foreignaffairs/story/0,,2201805,00.html

[rickstas]

"Viva Cuba Libre!"

[libsluvsuvs]

a question for pro-cuban liberals, if we can get Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Prez Roque and family out of cuba for some diplomatic summit or something and grant him amnesty..do you think he would consider going back??

just a question.

[libsluvsuvs]

Boy, Could the U.S. ever use a man like him right now.


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Posted by logicanada at 02:33 PM : Oct 31, 2007
+ report abuse


****

and last..you can still fly over to cuba and live there..THAT IS IF FIDEL IS WILLING TO TAKE YOU AS WELFARE LIABILITY..

[libsluvsuvs]

"War Causing Humanitarian Crisis In Congo
13,000 Refugees Flee Central African Country After 10 Days Of Intense Fighting"

maybe the UN should focus on one incompleted work before they start a new one.


and in regards to:

"All this badmouthing Castro, a man who threw the corrupt out of his country in favour of dividing Cuba''''s wealth among the people. Boy, Could the U.S. ever use a man like him right now."


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Fidel threw out the MANY corrupt and took over the position as the SOLE CORRUPT..and I think the people of Cuba is still waiting for thier share..

you are aware that cubans WILL FLEE cuba by plane, trains or automobile OR IN THIS CASE..makeshift floatation devices to get away from your DEAR HERO.

Posted by logicanada at 02:33 PM : Oct 31, 2007
+ report abuse

[logicanada]

All this badmouthing Castro, a man who threw the corrupt out of his country in favour of dividing Cuba''s wealth among the people. Boy, Could the U.S. ever use a man like him right now.

[reporter2112]

The new Mount Airy Casino is now open to gamblers in the Pocono''s. It is Pennsylvania''s first stand-alone casino, Read Our Complete Review about what it well cost you to Eat, Drink and play at this Casino.
www.poconocommunitynews.com

[bombadil4]

Many "models" that the world clings to do not work very well. Certainly Patriarchy, rule by religion and war/empire-building have all failed humanity. Perhaps socialism has by and large failed as well. Democracy?? Well as long as we are willing to define and diminish it as we have here in the USA of late years, then perhaps we still have a remnant of it. In the end it may not be the "model" but the honest intent that might save us. Or as the great songwriter Leonard Cohen puts it, "The heart has got to change in a fundamental way."

[rerrorislam3]

more terrorislam sponsored genocide

Thinktank accuses Saudi regime over hate literature

The controversial state visit of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, which got under way today with a lavish ceremony, has prompted new criticism over his regime''s alleged role in distributing hate literature in British mosques.
The Policy Exchange thinktank found extremist literature in a quarter of the 100 mosques and Islamic institutions it visited, including London Central Mosque in Regent''s Park, which is funded by Saudi Arabia.

Some of the literature advocated violent jihad, murdering gay people and stoning adulterers, its researchers found.
http://politics.guardian.co.uk/foreignaffairs/story/0,,2201805,00.html

[jowand]

Our bandwidth can be better used exchanging real information, rather than sociopathic exhortations to commit mass murder, and overturn sovereign states. Your hatred for all things you have been taught to hate basically stems from self hatred, perhaps your parents instilled this in you. However you came by it, we don''''t share it, and can do quite well without it.

Posted by brianbwb at 06:15 AM : Oct 31, 2007

Go live in Cuba, as a Cuban, just for 6 months

[rerrorislam3]

Posted by brianbwb at 06:15 AM : Oct 31, 2007

stupid silly little misguided terrorislam supporter,,, it is obvious to even the most casual observer that fascist nazi terrorislam is about genocide as well as communism,,, they both love killing anybody that is not one of them,,,

capitalism is the only system that works,,, it may not be utopis,,, but it is the closest you can get to it,,, every other system is c-r-a-p,,, but then you knew that already,,, right haji

[jowand]

Or even funnier, let the US lift their embargo, and then let Cuba impose one on trade with the US. In light of the state of the US economy, and the intentions of the US elite vis a vis the Middle east, and the emergence of China and Russia in global economics, the US dollar is becoming more and more irrelevant anyway.
Posted by brianbwb at 02:17 AM : Oct 31, 2007

This elite you keep speaking of has more Democrats than Republicans in it. Moveon.org is an elitist organization, Hollwood is full of elitists.

[jowand]

SOCIALISM IS SIMPLY COMMUNISM%u2026
"Socialism is simply Communism for people without the testosterone to man the barricades" Gary North

SOCIALSISM IS THE SAME AS COMMUNISM%u2026
"Socialism is the same as Communism, only better English" George Bernard Shaw (Irish literary Critic, Playwright and Essayist. 1925 Nobel Prize for Literature, 1856-1950)

SOCIALISM IS A PHILOSOPHY OF FAILURE!!!
"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." Winston Churchill (British Orator, Author and Prime Minister during World War II. 1874-1965)

SOCIALISM RECORD OF FAILURE%u2026
"Socialism in general has a record of failure so blatant that only an intellectual could ignore or evade it" Thomas Sowell (American Writer and Economist, b.1930)
Posted by rerrorislam3 at 03:02 AM : Oct 31, 2007

Socialism may be a failure but it isn''t Communism. Communism is socialism with a gun, exactly what you have in Cuba.
Churchill was an aristocrat at heart and Empire builder, the ones who had their foot on the neck of the English people for centuries.

[formrusmcsgt]

Posted by brianbwb at 06:15 AM : Oct 31, 2007

Don''t you hope he hasn''t any children? I sure do.....

[brianbwb-2009]

Posted by rerrorislam3

Come on, donnie, you know full well, as we do from your posts, that you don''t care one bit about people "suffering". You support Bush''s illegal war, advocating for it to morph into wholesale genocide of Muslims, and now spout hatred for communism. You are a simple troll, nothing more.

The Cuban''s health care, education, and cultural infrastructure is more effective than the US'', and generations have survived the current government. If the people want out of their current condition, they need no help from the likes of you, they did it once before, if they choose, they can do it again.

Our bandwidth can be better used exchanging real information, rather than sociopathic exhortations to commit mass murder, and overturn sovereign states. Your hatred for all things you have been taught to hate basically stems from self hatred, perhaps your parents instilled this in you. However you came by it, we don''t share it, and can do quite well without it.

[rerrorislam3]

"Most people who read "The Communist Manifesto" probably have no idea that it was written by a couple of young men who had never worked a day in their lives, and who nevertheless spoke boldly in the name of "the workers"." surfun Thomas Sowell (American Writer and Economist, b.1930)

SOCIALISM IS SIMPLY COMMUNISM%u2026
"Socialism is simply Communism for people without the testosterone to man the barricades" Gary North

SOCIALSISM IS THE SAME AS COMMUNISM%u2026
"Socialism is the same as Communism, only better English" George Bernard Shaw (Irish literary Critic, Playwright and Essayist. 1925 Nobel Prize for Literature, 1856-1950)

SOCIALISM IS A PHILOSOPHY OF FAILURE!!!
"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." Winston Churchill (British Orator, Author and Prime Minister during World War II. 1874-1965)

SOCIALISM RECORD OF FAILURE%u2026
"Socialism in general has a record of failure so blatant that only an intellectual could ignore or evade it" Thomas Sowell (American Writer and Economist, b.1930)

[rerrorislam3]

more proof the UN should be eradicated,,,

the resolution should call for castro and his commie buddies to move to democracy,,,

*** when did communism become monarchies?

n korea passing power from father to son, to son,

cuba passing power to his brother. *** comrade,

i thought you were all suppose to be equal??? right comrade???

[brianbwb-2009]

Let the embargo continue, at least Cuba won''t have to worry about corrupt corporations stealing their wealth, or brainwashed American tourists coming in to insult the people and contaminate the culture, or of CIA spooks infiltrating under the guise of business.

Or even funnier, let the US lift their embargo, and then let Cuba impose one on trade with the US. In light of the state of the US economy, and the intentions of the US elite vis a vis the Middle east, and the emergence of China and Russia in global economics, the US dollar is becoming more and more irrelevant anyway.

[libsluvsuvs]

libsluvsuvs. . . re millionaires in Cuba. Being a millionaire isn''''t all it''''s cracked up to be. And when is the last time one of them helped you out personally?


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Posted by logicanada at 07:28 PM : Oct 30, 2007
+ report abuse


********

do you really think castro will be any better without an embargo..YOU KNOW WHAT..YES HE WOULD..HE WOULD BE MORE FINANCED..

let us learn from africa..we already know what happens when we give these dictators money..

[one_american]

Maybe the UN should relocate into Cuba, if they like it so well.

And have Castro fund the damned thing.