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<font size=4><b>UN vote condemns US embargo on Cuba 187-3<br><br>
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<a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jZxcrZJYhtO7uE-06smJQc1LINcAD9BK8IE00" eudora="autourl">
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jZxcrZJYhtO7uE-06smJQc1LINcAD9BK8IE00<br>
</a>By PAUL HAVEN (AP) – 44 minutes ago<br><br>
UNITED NATIONS The U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday overwhelmingly
condemned the 47-year U.S. trade embargo on Cuba, an annual ritual that
serves to highlight global opposition to America's hard-line policy
toward the communist island, but which has done little to change
Washington's stance, even with a new administration.<br><br>
This year's vote was 187-3 in opposition to the embargo, up from 185-3
last year, with only Israel and the tiny Pacific island nation of Palau
supporting the United States. It was the 19th year in a row that the
General Assembly has taken up the symbolic measure, with Washington
steadily losing what little support it once had.<br><br>
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez ticked off a long list of
grievances in his speech before the world body, saying the embargo
which the Cubans refer to as a blockade had cost the island's fragile
economy tens of billions of dollars over the years and prevented Cuban
children from getting needed medical care.<br><br>
"The blockade is an uncultured act of arrogance," Rodriguez
said. He likened the policy to "an act of genocide" that is
"ethically unacceptable."<br><br>
It was the first time the world body has taken the vote since U.S.
President Barack Obama took office in January, promising to extend a hand
of friendship to Washington's traditional enemies.<br><br>
The administration has loosened financial and travel restrictions on
Americans with relatives in Cuba, and started talks aimed at restoring
direct mail links. It sent a senior diplomat to Havana in September for
unannounced meetings with Cuban officials that were believed to be the
highest-level talks between the two countries in decades.<br><br>
Still, Washington has made clear it is not prepared to lift the embargo
until Cuba accepts some political, economic and financial
changes.<br><br>
Rodriguez said the question of the embargo represented a "test of
character" for the U.S. and its new president.<br><br>
"President Obama has a historical opportunity to lead a change of
policy toward Cuba and the lifting of the blockade," he said, but
lamented that "since the election" of the new U.S. leader
"there has not been any change in the implementation of the
economic, commercial and financial blockade against Cuba."<br><br>
U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice reacted strongly, calling Rodriguez's
statements "hostile" and "straight out of the Cold War
era."<br><br>
Still, she said the Obama administration was committed to writing "a
new chapter to this old story" by engaging with the Cuban
government. Rice used her speech to highlight the steps the Obama
administration had taken to improve ties.<br><br>
"We hope they can be the starting point for further changes in the
relationship," she said. "The United States has demonstrated
that we are prepared to engage the government of Cuba on issues that
effect the security and well being of both our peoples."<br><br>
One after another, global representatives stood to speak in opposition to
the embargo, calling it a cruel anachronism that ran counter to
international law and which had only succeeded in hurting ordinary
Cubans, particularly women and children.<br><br>
Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. <br><br>
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