Sanctions Debate Turns Ugly as UN Envoys Trade Accusations
New York, October 28: A routine debate on sanctions at the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday descended into a bitter exchange between the United States and Cuba. Representative Mike Waltz and Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla traded accusations, while the session struggled to maintain order.
The chamber was debating American economic sanctions on Cuba when tensions boiled over. Assembly President Khalilur Rahman urged everyone to keep the peace, requested that Cuban delegates return to their seats, and allowed Waltz to speak on Tuesday. He also suspended the meeting for a brief period.
Waltz's remarks drew a sharp reaction from the Cuban delegation, which pounded on its desks and shouted as he criticised Havana. Several delegates rose and moved toward the podium. Waltz accused Cuba's government of corruption and of benefiting the ruling elite at the expense of ordinary citizens. He cited the alleged wealth and lavish lifestyle of Cuba's leaders and called on member states not to support a resolution condemning US sanctions.
Rodriguez interrupted Waltz several times and asked to speak on a point of order. Rahman stepped in, saying, “Please help me run this smoothly, and you will get the right to speak.” Waltz shouted at Rodriguez, “Back up! This is not Havana.” Rahman asked the parties to sit down and suspended the meeting again, saying he was there to apply the rules of procedure fairly and independently.
When the meeting resumed a few minutes later, Rodriguez raised another point of order. He said Waltz was lying outright and insulting the dignity of the Cuban people and government. The Cuban delegation objected by thumping its desks. The situation worsened when Rodriguez approached Waltz's podium and called him a liar. The US ambassador asked him to step back, and UN officials intervened to restore order.
When Waltz resumed, he said Rodriguez had tried to silence him in front of cameras and ambassadors. He displayed photos which he said showed “Castro” wearing two Rolex watches worth $40,000. He was apparently referring to former president Raul Castro, brother of Fidel Castro, leader of the Cuban revolution.
The resolution under discussion calls for an end to US sanctions on Cuba, which have been made harsher in recent months along with an oil blockade. A vote is scheduled for Wednesday.
Most speakers opposed Washington's restrictions and backed Cuba. For the Non-Aligned Movement, Uganda's Permanent Representative Adonia Ayebare said the group was deeply worried by US measures this year that had pushed sanctions to an extreme level. Amid rumours that President Donald Trump was planning an attack on Cuba, he urged the General Assembly to work toward preventing military aggression against the island, recalling that Cuba is a founding member of the Movement.
For ASEAN, Singapore's Permanent Representative Burhan Gafoor said the grouping was particularly concerned about the impact of the sanctions on Cuban people, especially their access to food, medicines and other essential items.