The people of Cuba continue theircenturies’ long struggle in the reconquest of full justice. Along this road they have given ample proof of their capacity for resistance in the face of enormous challenges. One such challenge is the economic, commercial and financial blockade which has been imposed by the United States of America and has remained in place for over fifty years.
Just after the triumph of the Revolution, the blockade arose as a means to wear out the people by hardships. Over the past decades it has caused Cuba economic damages for 753,688 billion dollars when one considers the evolution of the price of the US dollar as compared to the price of gold on the international market. At current prices repercussions have exceeded 125,873 billion dollars.
During his visit to Cuba in March of 2016, President Barack Obama of the United States of America once more acknowledged that the blockade policy against the Island is obsolete and must be eliminated. He affirmed that it only harms the Cuban people instead of helping them. He also again called on the US Congress to put an end to this policy.
Even so, the economic, commercial and financial blockade against Cuba remains in force. The restrictions it imposes continue to be applied and the toughening of that policy in its financial and extra-territorial dimensions is being extended. This can be seen in the imposing of multi-million-dollar fines on banks and financial institutions for having relations with Cuba and in the persecution of Cuba’s international financial transactions.
Until the present, the announced authorization for use of the US dollar in Cuban international transactions has not come about, nor has the possibility for US banks to provide loans to Cuban importers of authorized US products. Nor have the fears of US and third country financial institutions or the selfsame US suppliers diminished, due to the risks of being fined.
Besides the economic hardship caused and despite the efforts of the Revolutionary government, the blockade has repercussions on the full exercise of the human right of Cubans to food, health, education, culture, sports and development. The blockade policy constitutes to be the primary obstacle to the development of all the potential of the economy and the wellbeing of the Cuban people, as well as for economic, commercial and financial relations between Cuba and the United States and the rest of the world.
The genocidal and extraterritorial blockade against Cuba must definitively cease. The President of the United States of America has ample executive powers that would allow him to fundamentally dismantle the blockade policy in spite of the fact that its total elimination would require a congressional decision.
Cuba and its people trust that they can count on the growing support of the international community in their legitimate claim to put an end to the blockade.
We need to have the 24 resolutions adopted by international community at the UN General Assembly respected. By an overwhelming majority, the UNGA Member States ask for that absurd policy to be put to an end, along with respect for international law and the fulfillment of the principles and purposes of the UN Charter.
Therefore we invite the senators and representatives of the United States to take a historic step on the side of ethics, justice, freedom and peace, in voting to lift the blockade against Cuba, for the benefit of both peoples.
At the same time, we call on all citizens of good faith and we convoke parliamentarians all over the world to accompany the Cuban people and present their claim to the Congress and the Executive of the United States of America, by all available means, to unconditionally lift the blockade and for respect for the legitimate and sovereign rights of the Cuban people to build their own destiny of justice, prosperity and peace.
Commission for International Relations
National Assembly of the People’s Power
Republic of Cuba
Havana, 13 October 20166