Pretoria, 22 September 2026.— The Cuban Ambassador, Fakri Rodríguez Pinelo, spoke today with journalist Khaya Khumalo of SABC News regarding the forthcoming vote in the United Nations General Assembly on the resolution entitled ‘The necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States of America against Cuba’.
During the interview, Ambassador Rodríguez Pinelo emphasised the immoral nature of the current US policy, which imposes collective punishment on the Cuban people in order to achieve political objectives. He emphasised that the blockade constitutes a flagrant violation of international law and the principles of the United Nations Charter, and hinders Cuba’s access to finance, technology, medicines and other essential supplies for the nation’s economic and social development.
The Cuban diplomat called on the international community to give its unequivocal support to the resolution demanding an immediate end to these unilateral coercive measures, which have been rejected year after year by an overwhelming majority of UN Member States.
Rodríguez Pinelo reaffirmed the historic and fraternal ties between Cuba and South Africa. He praised the Republic of South Africa’s principled foreign policy, in particular its consistent stance in support of Cuba and its call to end all unilateral coercive measures that contravene international law.
The Ambassador expressed his confidence that both countries will continue to strengthen their ties in defence of a more just and equitable international order that respects the sovereignty of all States.
(Cuban Embassy in South Africa)