The United States abstained for the first time in the vote on the embargo/blockade on Cuba at the UN. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power said that: “We have always voted against, today the United States is abstaining.” Power reiterated the will to change relations between Washington and Havana.
The voting’s results was 191 countries in favor of the report presented by Cuba to the United Nations General Assembly, 2 abstentions (United States and Israel) and no votes against.
Historic vote at #UN on Cuban resolution vs #Blockade, 191 in favor, #US and #Israel abstain #WorldvsBlockade #MyVoteVsBlockade #CubaUS pic.twitter.com/0vju8adCWw
— Cuban Embassy in US (@EmbaCubaUS) 26 de octubre de 2016
“The rectification of the U.S. vote in this room has taken 24 years. They have been 24 years of isolation and failure and 58 of heroic resistance by Cuba. That is what is happening. At this moment I am thinking about my people, of Fidel and Raúl, about the young Cuban protagonists in this heroic struggle,” Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez said.
#BrunoRodriguez: “Congreso de #EEUU no ha aprobado ni una sola de las 20 propuestas para modificar aplicación del #bloqueo“. #CubaVsBloqueo pic.twitter.com/tzXf6MA10u
— Cancillería de Cuba (@CubaMINREX) 26 de octubre de 2016
Ben Rhodes, President Obama’s adviser and a key person in the negotiations between the U.S. and Cuban governments, tweeted that “there is no reason to vote to defend a failed policy we oppose.”
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The embargo denies opportunities to Cubans and isolates the U.S. For the sake of our interests and the Cuban people it should be lifted.
— Ben Rhodes (@rhodes44) 26 de octubre de 2016
US will abstain for first time on UNGA Resolution calling for end to embargo on Cuba. No reason to vote to defend a failed policy we oppose
— Ben Rhodes (@rhodes44) 26 de octubre de 2016
According to Carlos Alzugaray, former Cuban diplomat and political analyst, it’s “a historic day for two reasons: once again for the 25th consecutive time the international community is voting – this time unanimously – in favor of lifting the blockade; but what’s most important is the United States’ surprising abstention and, above all, Ambassador Samantha Power’s speech. Our hats off to her and President Obama. If anyone had doubts about her government’s sincerity in terms of its opposition to the blockade, now there is no room for doubts.”
The U.S. ambassador said before the General Assembly: “We want to be among the first to recognize, as our counterparts say, that our history has important reasons for collaboration and we recognize the efforts and determination of the Cuban government to achieve equity between boys and girls in their country, and other actions designed to improve the life of Cubans on the island.”
She alluded to what she presented as “a moving example” to mention that “in 2014 we faced the worst epidemic of ebola. The action of the international community was slow, and President Obama sent 3,000 troops to combat. Another country that took the step was Cuba, sending an enormous amount of doctors to fight against ebola in an extraordinary effort for a country of only 11 million inhabitants,” she specified.
However, Power insisted on the arguments of the legality of the blockade, saying that “all U.S. actions in terms of Cuba have been and are according to the UN Charter and International Law.”
She also noted that “as President Obama said in Havana, we recognize that the island’s future is in the hands of the Cubans. In the almost two years in which the president indicated the change in our focus we have amended on six occasions the regulations that implement the embargo.”
The Cuban side, represented by Bruno Rodríguez, recalled that many of these measures “will not be able to be implemented unless others are approved that finally allow Cuba to freely export and import products and services to and from the United States; using the U.S. dollar in its international financial transactions and operating accounts in that currency in third country banks; as well as having access to credits and financing of private entities and international financial institutions.”
Just informed UNGA that U.S. will abstain for 1st time on annual resolution on US embargo on #Cuba. Vote up next: https://t.co/hH1Nt74SCl pic.twitter.com/sGEKSsInUL
— Samantha Power (@AmbassadorPower) 26 de octubre de 2016
Meanwhile, Arturo López-Levy, a Cuban resident in the United States and professor of politics and international relations in the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley, also shared with OnCuba his opinion about the news:
The U.S. and Israeli vote of abstention has the important symbolism that no State in any part of the world with any arguments defends the policy of blockade against Cuba. It is a sign of new times in which an international environment friendlier to reforms and the expansion of freedoms in Cuba is confirmed. It is also a confirmation of the victory of the resistance of Cuban nationalism for one and a half century against U.S. interventionist policies.
For Cuba and the United States the challenge is now to build normal relations between both States and societies, according to the norms of international law.
For Cuba and Israel there is also the task of improving their diplomatic relations. The Israeli abstention eliminates one of the principal Cuban criticisms of the Jewish state and must open spaces for a new dialogue between the two States. Multilateral discrepancies and diplomatic alliances must not be an obstacle for the promotion of their respective national interests.
Israel and Cuba both have vibrant scientific, cultural and educational communities. The largest Cuban population in the Middle East lives in Israel, given the growing emigration of Cuban Jews to that country. There’s also an important interest in the Israeli business community about the reforms in Cuba. It’s time to at least establish consular relations between the two countries.
“Israel’s abstention has made us very happy. It is clear that there is no sense in voting in favor of an outdated policy. It never made any sense. But it’s very good that these steps were taken that will favor at some time the reestablishment of diplomatic relations between Cuba and Israel. As Jews and as Cubans, with love of both nations, our greatest hope is that one not-too-distant a day both nations will resume their relations. It will be of great social benefit. The first steps have been taken. May God and the will of men help in these questions,” David Prinstein, vice president of the Hebrew Community in Cuba, said to OnCuba.
This is how Sergio Alejandro Gómez, head of the daily Granma’s international news writing staff, commented on the event.
Listening to Samantha Power speak well about Cuba is like a homily by the Pope about the orgasm. There’s no doubt things are changing.
Jorge Legañoa, assistant editor-in-chief of the Cuban News Agency, shared a photo that shows the evolution of the support for the resolution presented by Cuba at the UN since 1992.
EL MUNDO con #Cuba por vigésimo quinta ocasión contra el bloqueo de #EEUU. #CubaVsBloqueo #YovotovsBloqueo @JosefinaVidalF @JoseRCabanas pic.twitter.com/a6d4gw07l8
— Jorge Legañoa (@cronicasdecuba) 26 de octubre de 2016
Authors
OnCuba Staff,
OnCuba editorial staff
