Russia Stands With Cuba as UN Votes Against US Curbs
Moscow, October 30
Russia has pledged continued support for Cuba as the island faces United States economic, commercial and financial sanctions. The Russian Foreign Ministry said Moscow would keep working to have these restrictions removed.
The ministry issued a statement on its website after the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution on Wednesday demanding an end to the sanctions. Of the votes cast, 130 supported the resolution and 17 opposed it, while 25 countries did not vote. Russia joined those in favour.
The ministry argued that the voting outcome demonstrates near-unanimous and firm international condemnation of what it described as illegal and inhumane sanctions against Havana.
According to the ministry, economic and military pressure on Cuba has reached unprecedented levels this year. It said the energy blockade has brought ordinary Cubans to the edge of a survival crisis.
The ministry cautioned that if Cuba's socio-economic order collapses entirely, a large number of people could leave for neighbouring countries. This, it said, could lead to a significant migration crisis in the region.
Russia commended the Cuban government and its people for their courage in safeguarding the country's sovereignty and freedom. It noted that Havana continues to uphold an independent foreign policy in the face of intense US pressure.
The ministry reaffirmed that Moscow's principled position on the issue remains the same. It promised to work with Cuba and the international community to ensure the sanctions are lifted as soon as possible, fully and unconditionally.
In a separate development, India on Wednesday again rejected laws that undermine the sovereignty of other countries. New Delhi voted in favour of the UN General Assembly resolution calling for the lifting of US sanctions on Cuba.
Speaking at the UN, Saumya Nair, Counsellor at India's Mission to the United Nations, said India supports the Assembly's appeal asking all countries to reject laws and regulations with cross-border effects that harm the sovereignty of other states and the progress and prosperity of their people.
Ahead of the vote, she said, “India reiterates the Assembly's appeal that all states refrain from applying such laws and measures and, in keeping with their obligations under the UN Charter and international law, repeal and declare them null and void.”