DATE=10/14/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-240197
TITLE=U-N / U-S / CUBA SANCTIONS (L - ONLY)
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
(VOICED BY LARRY FREUND)
INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY TODAY (WEDNESDAY)
APPROVED A RESOLUTION CALLING FOR AN END TO THE U-S EMBARGO
AGAINST CUBA -- THE SEVENTH SUCH RESOLUTION APPROVED SINCE 1992.
V-O-A'S UNITED NATIONS CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON REPORTS.
TEXT: THE RESOLUTION WAS APPROVED WITH 157 VOTES IN SUPPORT AND
TWO VOTES -- THE UNITED STATES AND ISRAEL -- AGAINST. THAT IS 14
MORE YES-VOTES THAN LAST YEAR AND NEARLY 100 VOTES MORE THAN IN
THE FIRST SUCH DEBATE SEVEN YEARS AGO.
CUBA'S MINISTER OF FOREIGN RELATIONS, ROBERTO ROBAINA, SPEAKING
THROUGH AN INTERPRETER, WAS THE FIRST OF NEARLY A DOZEN SPEAKERS
WHO VOICED SUPPORT FOR THE RESOLUTION.
/// ROBAINA INTERPRETER ACT ///
THE U-S HAS CERTAINLY DESIGNED A BLOCKADE THAT, AS A
VILE MEDIEVAL CUDGEL, HAS MANAGED, WITH A SLOW AND
PYRRHIC SUCCESS, TO BRING ABOUT INNUMERABLE SHORTAGES
FOR 11 MILLION HUMAN BEINGS, AND HAS GREATLY PREVENTED
OUR COUNTRY'S NORMAL DEVELOPMENT. THE U-S, HOWEVER, HAS
BEEN ABSOLUTELY UNSUCCESSFUL IN ITS OBJECTIVE OF
TOPPLING THE CUBAN REVOLUTION AND INCITING THE PEOPLE TO
RISE UP AGAINST ITS LEADERS, THE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC
SYSTEM WE HAVE FREELY CHOSEN.
/// END ACT ///
REPRESENTATIVES OF MANY LONG TIME ADVERSARIES OF THE U-S
GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING IRAQ, LIBYA AND SYRIA, SPOKE IN SUPPORT OF
CUBA. THEY SAID THE EMBARGO VIOLATES CUBA'S SOVEREIGNTY AND IS
THUS AGAINST INTERNATIONAL LAW.
THE U-S EMBARGO AGAINST CUBA WAS BEGUN IN 1960 IN RESPONSE TO THE
NATIONALIZATION OF U-S INTERESTS IN CUBA. THE EMBARGO WAS
STRENGTHENED IN 1962 AMID THE CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS. SUPPORT FOR
CALLS AGAINST THE EMBARGO BEGAN TO GATHER FORCE IN THE GENERAL
ASSEMBLY AFTER PASSAGE IN THE UNITED STATES OF THE HELMS-BURTON
ACT IN 1996. THAT ACT EXTENDS PUNITIVE TRADE MEASURES TO
THIRD-PARTY ENTITIES CAUGHT TRADING WITH COUNTRIES FACING U-S
TRADE EMBARGOES.
U-S AMBASSADOR PETER BURLEIGH SPOKE IN THE LATEST GENERAL
ASSEMBLY DEBATE ON THE ISSUE.
/// BURLEIGH ACT ///
YEAR AFTER YEAR, THE CUBAN GOVERNMENT HAS MANIPULATED
THE CONCERNS EXPRESSED IN THIS CHAMBER TO CLAIM SUPPORT
FOR ITS REPRESSIVE AND FAILED POLICIES. THE RECORD,
HOWEVER, IS CLEAR: DOZENS OF DISSIDENTS AND HUMAN RIGHTS
ADVOCATES HAVE BEEN DETAINED AND ARRESTED OVER THE PAST
YEAR.
/// END ACT ///
THE NON-BINDING RESOLUTION APPROVED IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
EXPRESSES CONCERN ABOUT THE HELMS-BURTON ACT OF 1996 AND ITS
IMPACT ON THE SOVEREIGNTY OF OTHER STATES. IT URGES STATES THAT
APPLY SUCH LAWS TO REPEAL THEM. (SIGNED)
NEB/UN/MPR/LSF
14-Oct-98 2:54 PM EDT (1854 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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