During the plenary meeting of the UN General Assembly focused on the “Elimination of unilateral extraterritorial coercive economic measures as a means of political and economic compulsion, Carlos Fernández de Cossío, Cuba's vice minister of foreign affairs, reaffirmed the Cuban government's unequivocal condemnation of these practices, which contravene international law and the fundamental principles of the UN charter.
During his speech, Mr. Fernández de Cossío stated that the economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed by the United States on Cuba goes beyond the term of unilateral coercive measure. He emphasized that it is a policy of comprehensive economic aggression whose historical objective has been to provoke shortages, suffering, and despair among the Cuban population to break their political will and subjugate the nation.
He affirmed that the blockade deliberately hinders Cuba's economic development and negatively affects the living conditions of its people. It has an extraterritorial scope that violates the national sovereignty of third states.
The Cuban diplomat referred to the set of laws and regulations supporting this policy, which reflect interventionist and hegemonic intentions by attempting to prevent Cuba from establishing economic, commercial, and financial relations with other countries. He denounced the fact that the United States pressures, threatens, and sanctions governments, companies, and entities of third states that maintain legitimate links with Cuba.
He also pointed out that the restrictions imposed by the U.S. government prevent Cuba from acquiring products containing even a small amount of U.S.-origin components. This represents a significant limitation in an interdependent global context and directly impacts essential sectors such as health, food, education, energy, and telecommunications.
Fernández de Cossío also highlighted the negative impact of these coercive measures on Cuba's international financial operations by restricting access to credit, transfers, payments, and banking services, all of which raises transaction costs and hinders the performance of the national economy.
The vice minister denounced Cuba's unjustified inclusion on the State Department's unilateral list of countries that allegedly sponsor terrorism., which has led to new restrictions, particularly financial ones.
He also condemned the recent coercive actions taken by the United States against ships transporting fuel to Cuba and the entities that insure them. Additionally, he denounced the intimidation campaign directed at governments that maintain medical cooperation programs with Cuba.
Fernández de Cossío concluded his speech by reiterating that these measures constitute flagrant violations of international law and the principles that sustain multilateralism. He said that unilateral and extraterritorial coercive measures are contrary to the spirit and letter of the United Nations Charter. Cuba reiterates its firm rejection of their application and urges the international community to demand their immediate lifting.
Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations