Cuba Reaffirms Denunciation of US Blockade at UN

Cubadebate – United Nations, May 24 (Prensa Latina) Cuba reaffirmed today at the United Nations its denunciation of the US blockade and the difficulties caused to the Island in fulfilling its financial commitments with the world body.

It also criticized the unilateral coercive measures and other actions carried out by the UN host against several members, in violation of its obligations in this regard.

While ratifying his country’s commitment to multilateralism despite difficulties, Deputy Permanent Representative of Cuba to the UN, Oscar Leon Gonzalez, recalled in the Fifth Commission of the General Assembly that Cuba has suffered for over 50 years the consequences of the unfair economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the government of the United States.

That siege prevents the Island from using the US dollar in international transactions, including the fees to be paid to international bodies, and it affects its payment capacity, as the movements are subject to market fluctuations, he noted.

Leon cited the numerous occasions in which Cuban money transfers have been frozen, even in euros, and denounced that these US actions also harm UN cooperation with Cuba.

He cited as example when the United States seized in January, 2011, 4.20 million USD from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, which were allocated to implementing projects in Cuba.

Leon said that action had no legitimacy of foundation and only showed the will to tighten the policy of blockade in one of the most sensitive sectors for the Cuban government and people.

In the same line he mentioned the refusal of Swiss banks UBS and Credit Suisse, who handle the bank accounts of most Geneva-based international bodies, to get directly money transfers from Cuban institutions.

Both banks subordinated to US orders and have joined the implementation of extraterritorial laws, he said.

The Cuban diplomat insisted on the need to put an end to the US blockade against Cuba, which “constitutes the main obstacle to our country’s sustainable development” and has been condemned for 20 consecutive years by the UN General Assembly.