UN General Assembly calls for end to U.S. embargo on Cuba

UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- The UN General Assembly on Wednesday voted overwhelmingly to call for an end to the U.S. embargo on Cuba.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla speaks during the UN General Assembly meeting at the UN headquarters in New York,the U.S., Oct. 28, 2009.(Xinhua/Shen Hong)

The vote was cast at the 192-member General Assembly with 187 in favor, three against and two abstentions. This is the 18th year that the General Assembly voted to urge an end to the U.S. embargo.

Only the United States, Israel and Palau voted against the non-binding resolution, while Micronesia and the Marshall Islands abstained.

Over 17 consecutive years since 1992, a majority in the United Nations General Assembly have supported lifting the unilateral U.S. embargo.

The United States imposed the trade embargo on Cuba in early 1960s when both countries severed diplomatic ties.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, while taking the floor at the General Assembly, said that U.S. embargo was "an absurd policy that causes scarcities and sufferings."

"It is a crass, flagrant and systematic violations of human rights," the foreign minister said.

"Cuban children suffering from lymphoblastic leukemia who reject traditional medicines can not be treated with the American product 'Elspar', created specially to treat intolerance," he said. "Consequently, the life expectancy of these children is reduced and their suffering increases. The U.S. government forbids Merck&Co. to supply this medication to Cuba."

"Since the election of (U.S.) President (Barack) Obama, there has not been any change in the implementation of the economic, commercial and financial blockade against Cuba," the foreign minister said. "The blockade remains intact."