Vietnam urges US to end economic embargo against Cuba
VOV.VN - The nation has called on the United States Government to reverse its current policy towards Cuba after voting in favour of a UN resolution on the issue, not only for the sake of the two peoples, but also for peace, stability, and development of the region and the wider world.
The UN General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolution on June 23 calling on the US to end its long-standing economic, trade, and financial embargo against Cuba with 184 votes in favour, two votes against, and three abstentions.
Resolution (A/RES/75/290) was initially proposed by Cuba in 1992 and has been approved by the UNGA every year with an overwhelming majority.
During the course of a meeting held on June 23, more than 20 countries, including representatives of six groups of countries from Africa, the Caribbean Community, ASEAN, G77+China, the Non-Aligned Movement, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) voiced their strong support for the adoption of the Resolution.
These nations there expressed their concerns regarding the adverse effects of unilateral coercive measures taken against Cuba which cause difficulties and challenges to the Caribbean nation's development across multiple fields.
They went on to underscore the need for the US to lift its embargo against Cuba and pledge to continue abiding by the principles, purposes, and spirit of the UN Charter, especially the principles relating to sovereign equality and non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries.
Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, head of the Vietnamese mission to the UN, stressed that the economic, trade, and financial embargo against Cuba runs counter to international law and the fundamental principles of the UN Charter.
Furthermore, it can be considered to be the most unjust and prolonged unilateral punishment system ever imposed against a country in the modern era. This is due to the embargo causing great damage to Cuba, leading to many generations facing significant difficulties.
Vietnam, along with the wider international community, has joined calls for the US to end its unilateral embargo taken against Cuba, thereby making it possible for the Caribbean country to freely and fairly engage in economic and trade relations in line with international law.
The Vietnamese Ambassador also highly appreciated Cuba's desire to continue dialogue and co-operation with the US on issues of shared concern, as well as negotiate outstanding bilateral issues on the basis of equality, reciprocity, and respect each other's national sovereignty and independence.
The resolution of the UNGA has political significance, but only the US Congress is entitled to lift the economic embargo that has been imposed on Cuba over 50 years.