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UN: 20 Years Condemning U.S. Blockade on Cuba

United Nations, Oct 20. -As the United States continues strengthening its economic, trade and financial blockade on Cuba, the UN General Assembly is set to vote with near unanimity for the 20th consecutive time for a resolution condemning the blockade.The issue will be analyzed again by the UN body on October 25, when a resolution demanding the lifting of those measures introduced almost 50 years ago will be voted on.

In 2010, 187 countries voted in favor of a similar document in the plenary session, where the United States and Israel voted against, and Marshall Islands, Palau and Micronesia abstained.

The issue is explained in detail in a report distributed in this international body under the heading "The Necessity of Ending the Economic, Commercial and Financial Blockade Imposed by the United States of America Against Cuba."

In the document, the Cuban government states that U.S. measures against the Caribbean nation persist and strengthen, despite the increasing and categorical demand from the international community for its elimination.

The current U.S. government has adopted some positive measures, but insufficient and limited. They are not intended to alter the framework of laws, regulations and provisions comprising this policy, the text says.

The direct economic damage to the Cuban people until December 2010, at current prices and at a conservative estimate, is greater than 104 billion USD, the document noted.

That policy is also a violation of the human rights of all the Cuban people, as well as of the constitutional rights of US citizens, denying their freedom to travel to Cuba. The policy also affects the rights of other states because of its extraterritorial nature. (Prensa Latina)