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U.S. blockade Causes
Billions in Losses to Cuba
HAVANA,
Cuba, Sep 15 (acn) The U.S. economic, commercial and financial
blockade has cost Cuba over 750 billion dollars in direct
economic damages in half a century, reads a report introduced
today by Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla.
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This figure reveals that despite there is a new
US government, allegedly inspired by the philosophy of change,
there hasn’t been any change in its policy towards the island,
said the Cuban Minister.
Rodriguez Parrilla presented today to the domestic and foreign
press the report on the subject that Cuba will take to the 65
regular session of the UN General Assembly.
He called the blockade an act of genocide that has
extraterritorial reach, since its unilateral sanctions would
have a widespread effect on business outside the U.S. territory
over third countries and their citizens.
He denounced that Cuba continues being prevented from exporting
or importing goods and services freely to or from United States;
it can not use the US dollar in international transactions or
have accounts in that currency in banks of third countries, and
it is not allowed access to credit from U.S. banks , its
subsidiaries and institutions under its control.
He cited statements made to NBC by the economic adviser to
President Barack Obama Lawrence Summers, according to which, the
lifting of the embargo, as he euphemistically call it “will
depend on what Cuba does”
“It is clear that the United States government harbors no
intention to change in its policy toward Cuba, or to comply with
the repeated resolutions of the General Assembly of the United
Nations calling for its removal,” said the minister.
On the contrary, he said, they still cling to interventionist
unacceptable conditions and requirements as a condition for a
correction of their strategy.
Although he had a considerable political support in Congress, in
the press, public opinion and the business sector, President
Obama has been far below the expectations of its prerogative to
alter significant aspects of policy, he said.
It is a smoking mirror the claim that the U.S. president can not
change the economic, commercial and financial siege that has
lasted half a century, said the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
However, he warned, the current U.S. administration, violating
basic international standards, continues using political
subversion as a weapon in its confrontation with Cuba and
approved, to promote such programs, 40 million US dollars for
the 2009 and 2010 fiscal years
In 2009 representatives of 187 countries showed their support to
Cuba at the Un General Assembly, with only three against: U.S.,
Israel and Palau, the last two dependent on the first.
The 65 session of the General Assembly of the United Nations
began on Tuesday and there will be a debate with the
participation of Heads of State and Ministers of Foreign
Affairs. It will run from September 23 to the 30.
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