Celak calls for an end to the economic blockade imposed by the United States on Cuba

KINGSTOWN, March 1 (EFE). – The Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) on Friday unanimously approved a joint declaration in which they called for an end to the economic and trade blockade imposed by the United States on Cuba for more than six decades, which has battered its population. Before everything.

On the occasion of the eighth CELAC summit on Friday in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the 33 member states called for “the necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed on Cuba.”

The leaders present, including Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel, endorsed a special statement in which they expressed their “concern about the harmful effects of this blockade on the Cuban population and on Cuban citizens residing in other countries.”

Imposed in 1962, this blockade prevents Cuba from conducting dollar transactions, marketing products transiting the United States that contain at least 10% of parts manufactured in that country, and using the North American financial system.

CELAC's joint statement defined in six points the position of the member countries, which “urge the United States Government to end the blockade imposed on Cuba, and reiterate that this blockade contravenes the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and international law.” This policy, and his rejection of the extraterritorial dimension of the blockade.”

They also called for compliance with successive resolutions adopted by the UN General Assembly “which reiterate the call on the international community to end the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed on Cuba, which is causing grave and unjustified harm to the Cuban people.”

They highlighted, for example, the “overwhelming support” provided by the recent resolution adopted by the United Nations last November calling for an end to the embargo, which was opposed by only two countries: the United States and Israel.

This appeal, which has been launched annually for 31 years, received on this occasion a majority of 187 votes in favor, two against and only one abstention, that of Ukraine, an even more overwhelming result than last year, when three abstentions and the same negative. Votes.

The accumulated damage since 1962, when the embargo entered into force, exceeds 159 thousand million dollars, according to the Cuban government, which considers it one of the “obstacles” to the country’s development.