Cuba Praises Belarus’ Support of Anti-USA Resolution in UN

“For the past 20 years Belarus has supported the Cuban resolution at all the sessions of the UN General Assembly. We are grateful to Belarusian Foreign Minister Uladzimir Makiej for raising this issue in his speech at the UN General Assembly session. We are also grateful to Belarus for the report which was presented at the session of the UN General Assembly, where the topic was highlighted,” the Ambassador said.

He gave several examples to illustrate how big the losses of Cuba are due to the embargo imposed by the United States.

Thus, in May 2012, the Supreme Court of the United States refused to renew the registration of Cuba’s prestigious trademark Havana Club that was registered in the United States in 1976 and remained in force until 2006.

“The decision was set out in Section 211 US Omnibus Appropriations Act adopted in 1998. The infamous section 211 prohibits re-registration of the trademarks related to the former American property nationalized by the Cuban Government,” Alfredo Nieves Portuondo said.

The Ambassador also mentioned the sanctions imposed by the United States on Dutch ING Bank for financing transactions with Cuba.

“The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control imposed the highest-ever fine on a foreign bank. It ordered ING Bank to pay $619 million in fines. The distinctive feature of the Obama administration's policy is the strengthening of the extraterritorial nature of the embargo and the imposition of the embargo policy against Cuba on other countries,” noted Alfredo Nieves Portuondo.

According to him, the UN GA is expected to consider the next resolution on the U.S. blockade of Cuba. The vote against the blockade introduced by Washington 50 years ago will take place for the 21st time. In 2011 the Cuban resolution was supported by 186 countries, with just two states, the U.S and Israel, voting against it.

The number of the opponents to the blockade is increasing. Two days ago the Cuban Permanent Mission at the UN recalled the results of the polls and statements of international organizations, numerous politicians and creative intellectuals.

The poll conducted by Angus Reid Public Opinion showed that 62% of U.S. citizens spoke in favor of mending relations with Cuba. The report presented in the UN says that 57% of Americans back lifting of travel restrictions and 51% oppose the blockade.

“The U.S. economic blockade of Cuba is an illegal and hostile act which violates the international law, contradicts the provisions and principles of the UN Charter, violates the right of the sovereign state for peaceful existence, development and security. In its essence and aim it is qualified as an act of genocide according to the 1948 Geneva Convention,” Alfredo Nieves Portuondo stressed.

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