CUBA, October 12 th, 2016.- Year after year, the international public opinion has successively seen the repetition of the traditional image of the representative to Washington voting against the Cuban resolution, along with Israel, the immovable ally.
This is the position that the US government still continues showing, though President Barack Obama said, after the announcements on December 17, 2014 about the reestablishment of the diplomatic relations between the two countries, that “fifty years of isolating Cuba had failed, placing the United Stated in a backward moment regarding Latin-America.” Thus, the Head of the White House has reiterated his call on Congress to lift this obsolete policy, since that moment until now.
Obama has decided executive measures to modify some aspects of that policy; however, the blockade remains in force. The U.S restrictions to export on key branches of our economics still persist; Cuban products cannot practically be imported in that country; U.S. investment in Cuba are not authorized under general license, with the exception of telecommunications. Until now, the normalization of banking relation has not been possible to Cuba, and all this could be allowed by an executive decision of the U.S president.
The truth is that the dissuasive and punitive components of the blockade, and its extraterritorial scope, still have negative consequences for Cuba. The financial transfers of Cuba continues being blockaded, payments are withheld-even in currencies other than the U.S. dollar - services of all kinds are denied, including diplomatic missions and offices abroad; and fines are still imposed on those banks and foreign entities that are linked with Cuba.
Cuba has not still been able to make payments or cash deposits in U.S. dollars. The 49 fines, imposed by the government of President Obama to U.S. and foreign entities legitimately related to Cuba continue having an intimidating effect on banks from the United States and the rest of the world.
Thus, the lifting of the blockade remains a high priority for Cuba and its removal is essential for making progress toward the normalization of the bilateral relations.
The blockade has been and is, not only the main obstacle to the development of Cuba, but also a major cause of suffering for the entire population. Countless examples evidence this claim.
It´s about more than 50 years of lack of food and medicine, inability to obtain spare parts for machinery which deteriorate or public transport, lack of school materials, or even restrictions on those who wish to make solidary donations to the Cuban people.
To face such cruelty, Cuba has been creative and has firmly resisted the ravages of the worst economic sieges, which has tried to strangle the nation.
Concern over health, educational training, implementation of tens of cultural, sports and scientific activities, and above all, the solidarity contribution of Cuban doctors and literacy teachers to the farthest corners of the world, have ratified the humanist essence of the Cuban Revolution in the most difficult circumstances.
As the Cuban intellectual and politician Ricardo Alarcón de Quesada, who is also an expert in the subject, has repeatedly expressed “... the blockade is a genocidal policy, the longest genocide in history. The United States has the obligation of removing it immediately and unconditionally, and if they want a relation with their neighbors that deserves to be considered as “normal,” they should try to compensate their victims. ”
The truth is that despite the limitations and adversities raffled for over fifty years because of the cruel policy imposed by Washington; Cuba has overcome the challenges of the blockade, with incomparable dignity and resistance.
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