UNITED NATIONS (CMC) –  The United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday urged the United States to end its economic, commercial and financial embargo against Cuba, renewing a demand it has made annually since 1992.

The UN said the resolution, titled “Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba,” passed overwhelmingly, with 187 votes in favour, two against (Israel and the US), and one abstention (Moldova).

“Though non-binding, the result drew attention to the relative isolation of the US regarding the embargo, which was first imposed in 1960 after former leader Fidel Castro came to power following the revolution,” the UN said.

“The resolution reaffirmed, among other principles, the sovereign equality of States, non-intervention and non-interference in their internal affairs and freedom of international trade and navigation,” it added.

The UN said the Assembly also reiterated its call for all States to refrain from promulgating or applying restrictive laws and measures, in line with their obligations under the UN Charter and international law, which, inter alia, reaffirm the freedom of trade and navigation.

“[The General Assembly] once again urges States that have and continue to apply such laws and measures to take the steps necessary to repeal or invalidate them as soon as possible in accordance with their legal regime,” it said in the resolution.

The Assembly also recalled the measures adopted by former US President Barack Obama in 2015 and 2016 to modify several aspects of the application of the embargo, “which contrast with the measures applied since 2017 to reinforce its implementation.”

Through the resolution, the UN said the General Assembly also decided to include the agenda item entitled “necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba” in the provisional agenda of next year’s session.

Last November, the UN General Assembly also voted overwhelmingly against the United States’ economic and trade embargo against Cuba.

At the time, 187 States also voted against the embargo, with only the US and Israel voting against and Ukraine abstaining.

In explaining its vote, the Representative of the United States, Paul Folmsbee, said that his country “stands resolutely” with the Cuban people.

“We strongly support their pursuit of a future with respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms,” he said, noting that sanctions are “one set of tools” in the US’ broader effort towards encouraging Cuba to advance democracy and promote respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.

He said the US recognises the challenges the Cuban people face, explaining that sanctions include exemptions and authorizations relating to exports of food, medicines, and other humanitarian goods to Cuba.

“The US opposes this resolution,” Folmsbee said, encouraging the General Assembly to urge the Cuban Government to adhere to its human rights obligations “and listen to the Cuban people and their aspirations to determine their own future.”

But Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla said at the time that the more than 60-year blockade violates the rights of all Cuban men and women.

He said families lack goods, there are long queues, excessively high prices, and the government makes great efforts to feed its people.

He said the blockade deprives the agricultural industry of funds to buy animal fodder, industrial equipment and other necessities for food production.

Despite wavers on food products, Rodríguez said the US was violating rules of international trade.

“Cuba is prevented from buying from US companies and its subsidiaries in third countries, equipment, technologies, medical devices and end use pharmaceuticals, and is, therefore. forced to acquire them at exorbitant prices by way of intermediaries or to replace them with less-effective generic drugs,” he said, citing testimony from Cuban families wrestling with serious illnesses.

“How different could [their] lives have been, if Cuba was not prevented from acquiring directly from the US market the [medications] to prevent the spasms,” he wondered.

Rodríguez said 80 per cent of the Cuban population has never known life without the crippling US blockade.

It is “an act of economic warfare, in times of peace”, creating a situation of ungovernability and an attempt to destroy the constitutional order, he said.