UNCTAD Condemns US Blockade Against Cuba

Geneva, Mar 7. – The blockade continued for over 50 years by the United States against Cuba was condemned at a meeting here in preparation for the XIII Ministerial Meeting of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (Unctad).

During discussion, the Chair of the Preparatory Committee of the Group of 77 and China and the coordinators of regional groups in Asia, Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean denounced the application of this hostile policy.

The counselor of the Cuban mission to the International Organizations in Geneva, Carlos Fidel Martin, explained the negative consequences of the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by Washington.

Martin also demanded that the documents for the Unctad meeting, to be held in Doha from 21 to 26 April, maintain two paragraphs that denounce the application of unilateral coercive measures.

The first requires States to refrain from promulgating and applying these policies, which are opposed to international law and the UN Charter and impede the economic and social development of poor countries.

Such measures, add the text, make access to markets difficult, and impede investment and freedom of transit, as well as adversely affect the welfare of the population.

The second paragraph states that UNCTAD should assist countries affected by such impositions, which are contrary to the rules of the World Trade Organization, and make appropriate recommendations to address them or avoid them.

China, Iran, Zimbabwe, Bolivia, Ecuador and Venezuela supported the complaint by Cuba and demanded that these paragraphs remain in the context of policy analysis as well as the mandates of the executive activities of UNCTAD for the next four years.(Prensa Latina)