United Nations, October 29 (RHC)– “Cuba’s transactions in third countries are prohibited and this has especially pernicious effects,” said Uganda regarding the financial and commercial blockade that the United States has maintained against Cuba for more than 60 years.

The representative of Uganda to the UN, Richard Nduhuura, this Tuesday in the General Assembly denounced the criminal blockade of the United States against Cuba, on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).

Nduhuura expressed that the NAM stands in solidarity with the people and the Government of Cuba.  The NAM reiterates its rejection of “the imposition of unilateral coercive measures, which are not authorized by the corresponding organs of the United Nations and which contravene the principles of international law, and are not in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations.”

He also stated that these measures contravene the principles of the multilateral trade system and are used as tools to exert political, economic and financial pressure against different states, but in particular, when they are developing countries.

The Ugandan diplomat stressed that the blockade violates international law, which is why “Cuba’s right to fully interact with the international community is being violated.”

Nduhuura mentioned the damage that the unilateral measure causes to the Cuban people, preventing them, among other things, from enjoying their human rights and making them a reality, in particular their right to development.

“The direct and indirect damage caused to Cuba by the blockade is immense and affects all essential sectors of the Cuban economy, particularly public health, nutrition, agriculture, as well as trade, investments, tourism and banking,” he added.

He also referred to the damage suffered by the banking sector: “Cuba’s transactions in third countries are prohibited and this has especially harmful effects.”  The Ugandan diplomat stressed that, in February 2024, the blockade caused material damage to Cuba estimated at billions of dollars.

The diplomat denounced the obstacles that the blockade generates for the country’s socioeconomic development, such as access to the Internet, interpersonal contacts and the development of scientific, cultural and sports relations.

“The NAM strongly condemns the inclusion of Cuba on the unilateral list of states that allegedly sponsor terrorism, drawn up by the United States Department of State as announced on January 11, 2021,” he said.

Mexico, Oct 28 (Prensa Latina) Cuban Ambassador to Mexico Marcos Rodríguez on Monday described the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States as cruel and genocidal, and stated that it violates the human rights of Cuban people.

At a press conference at the Cuban Embassy and a few hours before the start of a new debate at the United Nations General Assembly on the necessity to end Washington’s blockade, the diplomat called this policy, which has been in place for more than 60 years, the main obstacle to Cuba’s development.

Noting that one of the fundamental purposes of this policy is to weaken Cuba’s economy and tourism, he mentioned the fact that Washington has decided that the European citizens who had visited Cuba at some point lost their right to join the ESTA electronic visa system.

He mentioned other actions, such as the prohibition for Cuba to buy any equipment that contains more than 10 percent of US components, and that a ship that docks in a Cuban port cannot visit a US port for six months.

Rodríguez referred to the recent mass disconnection of Cuba’s national power system due to a shortage of fuel and the breakdowns or obsolescence of many of the power plants, which is a direct consequence of the US blockade.

The diplomat stressed the widespread rejection of Cuba’s inclusion on Washington’s unilateral State Sponsors of Terrorism (SSOT) list, and said that the Caribbean island’s presence on that list “brings very hard consequences, especially in the financial issue.”

“Anyone who knows Cuba a little, anyone who has heard of Cuba, anyone who has been to Cuba, knows that Cuba is far from being a sponsor of terrorism; on the contrary, Cuba has been a victim for many years” of this scourge, he pointed out.

The ambassador deeply thanked Mexico for its courageous stance in favor of having the blockade lifted, “a position that has been expressed historically and that we are sure will be expressed tomorrow and the day after also at the UN General Assembly.”

“Cuba will not give up on denouncing the blockade, Cuba will continue to stand by the international community, asking that this unjust measure be eliminated once and for all by the Government of the United States,” he stressed.

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For more than 60 years, the U.S. foreing policy has caused significant damage to the well-being of the Cuban people.

Oct 29 (teleSUR) On Tuesday, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) opened the first debate session on the draft resolution entitled “Necessity of Ending the Economic, Commercial, and Financial Blockade Imposed by the U.S. Against Cuba.”

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The representative of Honduras, the country currently holding the pro tempore presidency of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), spoke in favor of lifting the blockade.

“In 2015, CELAC member states welcomed the measures taken between Cuba and the United States to begin normalizing diplomatic relations,” the Honduran diplomat said, emphasizing that these measures marked a new chapter in the history of peace and peaceful coexistence among American nations.

However, “CELAC regrets that the blockade is still a reality for Cuba,” he said, adding that the Community believes the blockade is the main obstacle to Cuba’s normal development.

The Honduran representation confirmed that the report presented to the UN outlines the costs this policy imposes on the Caribbean country, which “causes significant harm to the well-being of the Cuban people and is contrary to the Latin American peoples’ aspirations for peace as expressed in the Proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace.”

“The U.S. blockade is also contrary to the letter, spirit, purpose, and principles of the United Nations Charter and International Law,” the Honduran representative affirmed

“The CELAC states reiterate their opposition to the application of laws and measures contrary to International Law, such as the Helms-Burton Act, including its extraterritorial effects,” he added.

Similarly, CELAC expressed its disagreement with Cuba’s designation as a “State Sponsor of Terrorism,” which “is unfounded and has reinforced the intimidating effect of restrictions associated with the blockade, undermining Cuba’s ability to establish trade and financial relations with international partners.”

“The UN Charter establishes rights, obligations, and principles that no member should contravene or undermine. States must act in accordance with this document,” the representative of Honduras said, reiterating that the U.S. must respond to the call of the world and its own people to end the blockade.

Havana, October 29 (RHC) –The people of Cuba will be attentive today to the debate in the UN General Assembly of the draft resolution against the economic, commercial and financial blockade of the United States against the island.

It will be the thirty-second occasion in which a proposal for a decree against Washington’s hostility towards Havana will be debated and, as in the previous ones, the overwhelming support of the participating States is expected here.

In each of the previous votes, the international community declared itself in favor of eliminating the blockade and the rest of the measures against the Cuban government and people.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, the world forum of 193 countries will examine and vote on the document presented by the Caribbean nation, which explains the reasons why this U.S. policy, applied for more than six decades, should be suspended.

Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez heads the Cuban delegation that arrived in New York to present the project at the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, among other actions.

Officially called the Need to End the Economic, Commercial and Financial Blockade Imposed by the United States of America Against Cuba, the document was presented by Rodríguez at the Foreign Ministry last September.

According to what he said then, between March 2023 and last February, the country lost five thousand 56.8 million dollars due to the blockade, which represents an increase of 189.8 million compared to the previous report.

After suffering for more than 60 years from hostile measures and laws signed by the White House, Cuba has suffered damages exceeding 1.499 trillion dollars, he added.

He also specified that without the attempts of the North American governments to suffocate the Cuban Revolution, the nation’s Gross Domestic Product was able to grow up to eight percent during 2023.

For the authorities and the majority of the people, the blockade constitutes an act of war and is the main obstacle to the integral, sustainable and inclusive growth of Cuba.

They also consider that the inclusion of the island in the List of Countries Sponsors of Terrorism, drawn up by the United States government, intensifies the harassment that its application presupposes.   (Source: Prensa Latina)

Washington, Oct 27 (Prensa Latina) While the first 30 tons of food purchased in the United States by the Let Cuba Live campaign arrived at Cuba, here the fundraising continues, surpassing today 115 thousand dollars.

“We are increasing our goal to 150 thousand dollars to send more aid to those facing blackouts, shortages and hurricane damage,” the organization The People’s Forum said on the social network X, which, together with the Hatuey Project and the Party for Socialism and Liberation, carry out this coordinated effort.

The initial purpose was to collect 100 thousand dollars for the purchase of food and electricity generators destined to Cuba in this context of energy emergency combined with the passage of a hurricane through the eastern part of the country.

According to the appeal published on the internet, “at this moment, Cuba is facing a serious moment of crisis. In the midst of a devastating power outage, a hurricane and the ongoing brutal U.S. blockade, the Cuban people face urgent, life-threatening conditions.”

The convocation recalled that natural disasters and the U.S. government’s deliberate attempt to strangle the Cuban economy and limit its ability to trade, have led to a grave situation in Cuba, which is why “we must act now.”

The organizations agreed that the Cuban people are resilient. “They have faced more than 65 years of a cruel U.S. blockade, but this moment is unique: the triple threat of blockade, hurricane and blackout makes this moment especially urgent,” they warned.

On Tuesday The People’s Forum published a letter in The New York Times demanding that U.S. President Joe Biden reverse in his last 90 days in office the brutal policy of his predecessor, Donald Trump, toward Cuba.

In more than six decades, the blockade has cost Cuba more than 164 billion dollars in damages and some five billion dollars in losses in the last year alone (March 2023 to February 2024). The letter reiterated that every year the United States is left alone before the UN General Assembly while the world condemns this unilateral and hostile policy.

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Washington, October 28 (RHC) — Demonstrations in New York, Los Angeles and other cities in the United States took place Sunday, with a view toward the upcoming annual vote in the UN General Assembly on a resolution calling for lifting the blockade of Cuba.

The mobilization in New York City condemned the blockade of Cuba and demanded an immediate end to this irrational policy, which the government of that nation has maintained for more than six decades.

For its part, the “Hands Off Cuba” Committee of Los Angeles held a march and rally against the U.S. blockade. 

The Committee announed that there were international protests in more than 65 countries and 35 cities in the United States to demand the end of the blockade and the removal of Cuba from Washington’s list of alleged terrorist nations.  “The unilateral siege of successive US governments “has exacerbated the economic situation in Cuba by denying it (among others) access to oil from other countries and spare parts to repair its electrical grid,” the Los Angeles organization’s message emphasized.

It also recalled the impact in recent days of Hurricane Oscar in eastern Cuba, which puts pressure on the limited resources of the Caribbean island.

“The criminal blockade must end. Humanitarian aid must be allowed to reach Cuba,” the Committee concluded.

The expressions of support precede the vote that will take place for the thirty-second time in the UN General Assembly on the Resolution Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States of America against Cuba.

The annual debate will take place on Tuesday, October 29th and Wednesday, the 30th, at the United Nations in New York.

Washington, October 27 (RHC) — “Together we create” is the motto that will bring together representatives of more than 70 organizations that make up the National Network with Cuba in the United States at the annual conference that they are preparing this Saturday in the city of Detroit, Michigan.

“Join us in Detroit from November 15 to 17,” says the call published on the official page of the NNOC (acronym in English of the Network), which will take stock of the solidarity work with the island in the last year.

At the meeting, participants will also evaluate the actions against the economic, commercial and financial blockade that impacts the Cuban people and will continue to promote the paths that allow the achievement of the normalization of relations between the two countries.

It will be a time to support the future of the solidarity movement with Cuba, the organizer said, extending her invitation not only to the groups that make up this platform, but also to students and youth activists, workers and all friends of the Caribbean country, especially those who live in cities near Detroit.

On the opening day,  they plan to open a photographic exhibition dedicated to the 65th anniversary of the founding of the Latin American Information Agency Prensa Latina, a press outlet founded on June 16, 1959 by the leader of the Cuban Revolution Fidel Castro and the Argentine-Cuban guerrilla Ernesto Che Guevara.

The exhibition 65 Years in the Service of Truth is a tour in images of the presence of this news agency, which has more than 30 offices around the world, including those in the United States and at the headquarters of the United Nations Organization in New York.

The organizers believe that it is necessary at this time to increase the number of voices and actions in solidarity with Cuba in the face of a reinforced blockade, the longest in history against any country, which constitutes a violation of the human rights of the Cuban people.

Havana, October 26 (RHC)– Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, member of the Political Bureau and head of Foreign Relations, stressed this Saturday that at the proposal of Cuba, Resolution 78/7 of the United Nations General Assembly will be discussed on Tuesday, October 29th and Wednesday the 30th, in New York.

On his Instagram account, the Cuban foreign minister stated that the world will once again overwhelmingly condemn the U.S. blockade against Cuba.

And precisely as part of the activities against this hostile U.S. policy, the streets of New York will host the exhibition “Cuba is Not Alone” — with 50 works by artists from more than 15 countries, Rodriguez Parrilla reported on his X account.

This is, he explained, an initiative of the Artists vs Blockade Movement whose main objective is to demand the end of the blockade against Cuba and its exclusion from the list of States sponsoring terrorism.

“On the initiative of the Artists vs Blockade Movement, the #CubaIsNotAlone exhibition will be displayed on the streets of New York, with 50 works by artists from more than 15 countries. The demand is to end the blockade against Cuba and to remove those sponsoring terrorism from the list.”  [ SOURCE:  ACN ]

Washington, October 27 (RHC) — Demonstrations in New York, Los Angeles and other cities in the United States will precede this Sunday an upcoming vote in the UN General Assembly on a resolution calling for lifting the blockade of Cuba.

The mobilization in New York City will begin at 1:00 p.m. local time and will call for an end to the United States’ economic and political war against Cuba, according to the rally poster, published on social media.

For its part, the “Hands Off Cuba” Committee of Los Angeles announced that it will hold a march and rally to join those called. “This weekend there will be international protests in more than 65 countries and 35 cities in the United States to demand the end of the blockade and the removal of Cuba from Washington’s list of alleged terrorist nations,” it stressed.

The unilateral siege of successive US governments “has exacerbated the economic situation in Cuba by denying it (among others) access to oil from other countries and spare parts to repair its electrical grid,” the Los Angeles organization’s message emphasized.

It also recalled the impact in recent days of Hurricane Oscar in eastern Cuba, which puts pressure on the limited resources of the largest of the Antilles.

“The criminal blockade must end. Humanitarian aid must be allowed to reach Cuba,” the Committee concluded.

The expressions of support will precede the vote that will take place for the thirty-second time in the UN General Assembly on the Resolution Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States of America against Cuba.

Cuba -according to authorities in Havana- suffered losses of more than five billion dollars in the period from March 1, 2023 to February 29, 2024.