(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) NEW YORK, Oct 26 (KUNA) -- UN General Assembly voted today on a resolution condemning the US embargo on Cuba and calls for the necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo it to be ended.
The resolution reiterated its call upon all States to refrain from promulgating and applying laws and measures of the kind referred to in the preamble to the present resolution, in conformity with their obligations under the UN Charter and international law, which, inter alia, reaffirm the freedom of trade and navigation.
The resolution adopted today with 191 votes in favor, and two abstentions, the US and Israel. It also urged states that have to have and continue to apply such laws and measures to take the steps necessary to repeal or invalidate them as soon as possible in accordance with their legal regime.
For the first time, the US abstained against the resolution. US Ambassador Samantha Powers told the GA before the vote that for more than 50 years, the US had a policy aimed at isolating the government of Cuba, and for roughly half of those years, UN Member States have voted overwhelmingly for a General Assembly resolution that condemns the US embargo and calls for it to be ended. "The United States has always voted against this resolution," she said.
Before the vote, Kuwaiti Ambassador to the UN Mansour Ayyad Al-Otaibi, spoke on behalf of the Member States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in the states capacity as chair welcoming the restoration of US and Cuban diplomatic ties.
Al-Otaibi also welcomed before the General Assembly the reopening of embassies over a year ago, and US President Barack Obama's visit to Cuba in March 2016, as well as the other significant steps undertaken between both governments.
The OIC emphasized on the importance that those steps will have towards the normalization of bilateral ties between both nations and stresses that improving relations and moving forward positively would be mutually beneficial for both peoples.
In spite of the aforementioned positive steps, Al-Otaibi said there remains the issue of the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the US against Cuba.
"Such unilateral action taken by the United States has not only done harm to the Cuban economy, but also to the well-being of the Cuban people and Cuban nationals living in other countries; thus creating unnecessary economic hardship for them," he added.
The OIC said this decades long embargo has impeded socio-economic and development advances, and the continuation of the embargo obstructs Cuba's efforts towards sustainable development. In addition, this unilateral blockade affects not only Cuba, but also extends to third countries, and entities and companies who face imposed fines for having commercial activity with Cuba.
Reiterating its deep concern regarding the negative impact this unilateral blockade has on the Cuban people, Al-Otaibi stressed that the continuation of such an embargo is "unjustifiable." The OIC supported the draft resolution on the "Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba," believing that it truly reflects the international community's collective view on this position. (end) mao.ibi
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