[news] News release from Cuban Embassy in Canada

[resist]

EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF CUBA IN CANADA 
Embassy of the Republic of Cuba in Canada 
388 Main St., Ottawa, Ontario K1S 1E3 
Tel: (613) 563 0141 ext 243 --- Fax: (613) 563 0068 
cuba at embacuba.ca --- www.embacuba.ca

NEWS RELEASE 

Today, November 4, 2003, the United Nations General Assembly passed, by a
vote of 179 to 3 the resolution entitled Necessity of ending the economic,
commercial and financial embargo of the United States of America against the
Republic of Cuba. The Government of Cuba celebrates this statement of the
international community, expressed with such an overwhelming voting pattern.


Once again the United States confirms its isolation in maintaining a
criminal policy that violates international law that damages international
commercial and financial relations and that is cruel to the Cuban people. It
is a policy rejected on legal and moral grounds, contrary to the principles
and goals of the U.N. Charter. Since 1992 the United Nations has repeatedly
condemned this economic aggression but has faced an attitude of
non-compliance by the government of the United States. 

The economic blockade has lasted for more than 40 years. Its comprehensive
nature has damaged the Cuban economy in all areas of life and society. The
estimated amount of economic loss for Cuba exceeds 72 billion dollars. 

The desired goal of choking the Cuban economy and bending the will of the
Cuban people by misery and starvation has failed absolutely. But the policy
of economic blockade has had its toll in the lives of a whole generation of
Cubans. In spite of an enormous effort and a creative struggle to avoid its
impact, the country has faced considerable obstacles and difficulties in
developing its economy, in providing for its citizens and in ensuring many
of the basic needs that should not be denied to any human being.