New York, July 7th. Cuba achieved a diplomatic victory with 136 votes in favor in the United Nations General Assembly to hold the debate on Item 38: "Necessity of ending the economic, commercial, and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba." The decision was reached despite procedural maneuvers and misleading statements by the U.S. government.
During the special session, Vietnam's representative to the UN endorsed the statements made by ASEAN, the Non-Aligned Movement, and the G77 plus China. The Vietnamese delegation underscored that, for nearly seven decades, the blockade has severely impacted the development and daily life of the Cuban people. "And for 33 years, this Assembly, time and again, year after year, has urged for this blockade to be lifted," he recalled.
The diplomat expressed concern over the tightening of this policy, particularly the restrictions on electricity and oil supplies, as well as sanctions against entities with commercial ties to Cuba. "This increases pressure on essential services, and humanitarian operations in Cuba, including those by humanitarian agencies, also take a toll on medicine, education, and basic supplies. The consequences are especially difficult for ordinary citizens, particularly women and children," he noted.
He added that "more than 100,000 patients, including some 12,000 children, cannot undergo surgery, not due to a lack of medicines or doctors, but because of power outages."
Vietnam reiterated its consistent call for the lifting of the blockade and all measures of an extraterritorial nature, while also demanding Cuba's removal from the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism, "respecting political independence, territorial integrity, the right to self-determination, and the chosen path of development." Furthermore, it rejected the threat or use of force, coercion, and interference in Cuba's internal affairs, urging constructive dialogue and the peaceful resolution of disputes.
The Vietnamese representative also called upon the international community to support Cuba with its most urgent development and material needs. "We thank Cuba for its solidarity and its promotion of peace, progress, and development for the international community," he stated.
The diplomat highlighted the historic relationship of solidarity between the two nations: "Our two countries have enjoyed an excellent relationship of mutual support, and we stand by Cuba and provide practical assistance, especially regarding agricultural development and food security."
He recalled that, under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, reforms have been implemented that transformed the lives of its citizens over the past four decades. "And it is in this spirit that we applaud the reforms announced by Cuba and remain confident that Cuba will overcome all its challenges, moving forward on the development path of its choice," he concluded.