BY HILDA CUZCO
UNITED NATIONS - Condemning Washington's embargo against Cuba for the sixth consecutive year, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly adopted a resolution November 5 entitled "Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba." The resolution passed by the largest majority vote yet, 143 to 3 with 17 abstentions.

Ricardo Alarcón, head of the National Assembly in Cuba, who addressed the General Assembly on behalf of Havana, was pleased with the higher outcome. "Not only did the number of votes in favor of the resolution increase, but we were very happy to see that they crossed all geographical and economic lines," said Alarcón in a news conference. Voting against the resolution with the United States were the governments of Israel and Uzbekistan, which is seeking U.S. aid. Washington's main allies in Western Europe and Canada voted for the resolution, as did Tokyo, who abstained last year.

"The number of nations voting against U.S. unilateral sanctions on Cuba has grown steadily over the years," said Fernando Remírez, chief diplomat of the Cuban Interests Section in Washington, D.C. "U.S. sanctions against Cuba violate the Cuban people's human rights and function as a blockade, making it very difficult to get the basic goods we need," he added.

The resolution calling for an end to the embargo took particular aim at the " `Helms-Burton Act,' the extraterritorial effects of which affect the sovereignty of other States, the legitimate interests of entities or persons under their jurisdiction and the freedom of trade and navigation." This refers to the misnamed Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act signed by U.S. president William Clinton in March 1996, which tightens the embargo against Cuba and includes U.S. sanctions against foreign companies that invest in or trade with Havana. Governments in the European Union maintain that these aspects of the law violate World Trade Organization rules on international trade and infringes on their sovereignty.

In his speech to the UN General Assembly, Alarcón criticized the Clinton administration for not carrying out its pledge to press Congress to eliminating provisions that affect European corporations. Under the Helms-Burton law, corporate executives that invest in Cuban property that was expropriated from U.S. capitalists after the 1959 revolution are denied visas to the United States. U.S. officials "announced with great fanfare the understanding singed with the European Union last April 11, but they have done nothing to honor it," Alarcón said.

Representing Washington, Victor Marrero declared that the U.S. government's policy against Cuba advances "a democratic transition on the island."  
 
 
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