United Nations: The United Nations General Assembly, for the the 16th year in a row, has urged the United States to end its unilateral sanctions against Cuba with India describing the trade embargo against Havana as "unacceptable".

The embargo is nothing but a desire to continue an age old unjust arrangement and is "unacceptable" in the age of globalization, said Indian delegate Mohammad Salim.

The non-binding resolution is certain to be ignored by the US as it had done in the previous years even though 184 members of the General Assembly voted for it with Washington's friends and foes joining hands to call for lifting of embargo. Only Israel, Palau and Marshall Island joined the US in opposing the resolution with Micronesia abstaining. Last year, the resolution was adopted by 183 votes.

Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Pirez Roque denounced the long-running blockade imposed on his country, calling it the main obstacle to the development and well-being of the Cuban people, and a "blatant, massive and systematic" violation of their rights.

"Anyone can understand the level of socio-economic development that Cuba would have attained had it not been subjected to this unrelenting and obsessive economic war," he told delegates.

The US has not only ignored, "with both arrogance and political blindness," the 15 resolutions adopted by the Assembly calling for the lifting of the blockade, but has over the last year adopted new measures, further tightening the sanctions, Roque added. The Bush administration had strengthened the embargo with restrictions on visits as also remittances being sent to Cuba.

Reiterating that the embargo is a bilateral issue between his country and Cuba that should not come before the Assembly, US delegate Ronald Godard said that "Cuba's problems derive not from any decision of the US but from the embargo on freedom that the Cuban regime has imposed on its own people."

Stating that the Cuban people are denied information, access to the outside world, the right to travel and opportunities to better their lives economically, Godard urged countries to oppose the Cuban government's embargo on freedom, the real cause of the suffering of the Cuban people.

"Now more than ever we invite the Member States considering this resolution to reject the arguments of the Cuban government and focus on effecting a transition in Cuba that would restore its people's fundamental rights," he said.

Several delegates, especially from European Union, while supporting the resolution, also demanded that Cuba improve its record of human rights and release all prisoners.

Speaking on behalf of India, Mohammad Salim, MP, said the international community had categorically opposed the extraterritorial aspect of the embargo imposed against Cuba. The continuation of the embargo on Cuba had hampered that country's ability to pursue development initiatives and  caused severe humanitarian damage, particularly in terms of medical care and access to medical equipment and medicines, Salim said, adding other areas affected included nutrition, education, trade and investment, and transportation.

Embargoes and economic blockades, he said, were against the spirit of unhindered trade and commerce without barriers. Salim said the US and Cuba should be natural partners in trade, commerce and investment, and a considerable part of the business sector in the United States could benefit from
greater contact with Cuba.

Source : PTI