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href="https://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/US-to-Vote-No-on-UN-Resolution-to-End-Blockade-Against-Cuba-20171101-0005.html">https://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/US-to-Vote-No-on-UN-Resolution-to-End-Blockade-Against-Cuba-20171101-0005.html</a></font>
<h1 id="reader-title">US to Vote ‘No’ on UN Resolution to End
Blockade Against Cuba<br>
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<div id="reader-estimated-time">1 November 2017</div>
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<p>According to reports, the administration of U.S.
President Donald Trump will vote "no" against the annual
U.N. General Assembly resolution demanding an end to the
U.S. blockade of Cuba that was imposed in 1962.</p>
<p>Speaking at the General Assembly, titled, "Necessity of
ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo
imposed by the United States of America against Cuba,"
the representative of African states called the hardline
stance taken by the current U.S. administration against
Cuba as being "a step backward" that hampers Cuba's
sustainable development.</p>
<p>He recalled Cuba's proud history on the African
continent, actively participating in liberation
struggles and its ongoing contribution to improving
healthcare.</p>
<p>“The people of Africa will continue to remember this
contribution,” he said, adding that Cuba has long been a
responsible member of the international community.</p>
<p>The Venezuelan representative speaking on behalf of the
Non-Aligned Movement expressed full opposition to the
promulgation of the economic, commercial and financial
blockade against Cuba, which has lasted for over 55
years. He noted that the blockade is not only a
contravention of international law, it is also a
"criminal act" perpetrated by the most powerful
government in the world to prevent a small Caribbean
island from creating its own society.</p>
<p>The diplomat added that the blockade violates Cuba's
right to interact with the international community, due
to its extra-territorial reach in the forms of fines and
restrictions on people and businesses that travel to and
engage with Cuba.</p>
<p>This latest move by the United States follows an Oct. 3
decision to expel 15 Cuban diplomats following
allegations of "sonic attacks" on U.S. diplomatic staff
stationed in the U.S. embassy in Havana, which the Cuban
government has investigated and denied.</p>
<p>Since 1992, successive administrations have voted "no"
on the annual resolution before the general assembly.
Former U.S. President Barack Obama broke with this
predictability by abstaining from the vote in 2016 as
part of a new strategy of thawing relations with the
socialist country.</p>
<p>Trump has rebuked his predecessor’s decision to open
relations with Cuba. The administration has planned to
re-impose strict travel restrictions for U.S. citizens
to the island nation and close holes in the blockade
that made it possible for investment in certain areas of
the Cuban economy, including agriculture, technology,
and tourism.</p>
<p>"We plan to vote against the resolution to underscore
this new approach to Cuba," Heather Nauert, a State
Department spokeswoman, said in a statement. "The Trump
administration policy gives greater emphasis in
advancing human rights and democracy in Cuba, while
maintaining engagement that serves U.S. national
interests."</p>
<blockquote>
<p><strong>RELATED: </strong><br>
<a
href="https://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/JFK-Files-Reveal-US-Plotted-to-Use-Biological-Weapons-in-Cuba-20171029-0011.html">JFK
Files Reveal US Plotted to Use Biological Weapons in
Cuba</a></p>
</blockquote>
<p>She added, "Cuba has engaged in human rights abuses.
This administration continues to call upon Cuba to
improve in terms of human rights, and also open up to
where they would have better media access, better access
to the things that we enjoy here."</p>
<p>The annual resolution has been all but universally
supported by the 193-member body of the general
assembly. Only two countries have consistently voted
against the resolution in recent years — the U.S. and
Israel.</p>
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