US Blockade has cost Cuba over 86 Billion Dollars

Successive US governments’ anti-Cuba policy have failed to destroy the Cuban revolution, but the blockade is not rhetoric, it has cost the island’s economy over 86 billion dollars, bringing about severe economic restrictions, said first vice Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez at the Foreign Ministry in Havana on Monday.

Rodriguez noted that the nearly half century blockade is a blatant violation of human rights and an act of war and genocide against the Cuban people.

Addressing national and foreign media at the Foreign Ministry, Rodriguez presented this year’s edition of Cuba’s report to the United Nations General Assembly on the “Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States of America against Cuba.” Rodriguez stressed that despite all the hardships it has caused, it has failed, and it will fail because it is being met by the Cuban people’s resilience.

On November 8, the General Assembly will once again take a look at the issue and will hold a vote on a resolution presented by Cuba, which was approved last year by 182 of the 192 UN member countries.

The Cuban diplomat recalled that it is the longest and cruellest blockade in the history of humanity, and includes medicines and food.

He added that just in 2005, it caused 4.186 billion dollars in losses, and because of its restrictions, Cuba was denied the possibility of welcoming US tourists, while it intensified the harassment of those people who visit the island through third countries.

Last year 487 US citizens or residents were fined a total of 530,000 dollars for not complying with restrictions on travel to the island.

According to studies published in Washington D.C., every year an estimated 5 million US tourists do not come to the island that would have, making the local economy miss out some 7 billion dollars in revenues.

Rodriguez also made reference to the toughening of the measures included in the so called Bush Plan for Cuba related to the enforcement of prohibitions of family visits by Cuban Americans, which have dropped by 54%, while visits of US nationals were 45% lower.

Nevertheless, the Cuban official said that US anti-Cuban policies are totally isolated, a fact that will be thoroughly corroborated by the upcoming November 8 vote at the UN General Assembly.

To obtain the full text of Cuba’s Report to the United Nations General Assembly on Resolution 60/12: “Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States of America against Cuba” connect to http://www.cubaminrex.cu/English/index.asp

It is also available in Arabic, Portuguese, Russian, Italian, French, English and Spanish.

US Blockade has cost Cuba over 86 Billion Dollars

Successive US governments’ anti-Cuba policy have failed to destroy the Cuban revolution, but the blockade is not rhetoric, it has cost the island’s economy over 86 billion dollars, bringing about severe economic restrictions, said first vice Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez at the Foreign Ministry in Havana on Monday.

Rodriguez noted that the nearly half century blockade is a blatant violation of human rights and an act of war and genocide against the Cuban people.

Addressing national and foreign media at the Foreign Ministry, Rodriguez presented this year’s edition of Cuba’s report to the United Nations General Assembly on the “Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States of America against Cuba.” Rodriguez stressed that despite all the hardships it has caused, it has failed, and it will fail because it is being met by the Cuban people’s resilience.

On November 8, the General Assembly will once again take a look at the issue and will hold a vote on a resolution presented by Cuba, which was approved last year by 182 of the 192 UN member countries.

The Cuban diplomat recalled that it is the longest and cruellest blockade in the history of humanity, and includes medicines and food.

He added that just in 2005, it caused 4.186 billion dollars in losses, and because of its restrictions, Cuba was denied the possibility of welcoming US tourists, while it intensified the harassment of those people who visit the island through third countries.

Last year 487 US citizens or residents were fined a total of 530,000 dollars for not complying with restrictions on travel to the island.

According to studies published in Washington D.C., every year an estimated 5 million US tourists do not come to the island that would have, making the local economy miss out some 7 billion dollars in revenues.

Rodriguez also made reference to the toughening of the measures included in the so called Bush Plan for Cuba related to the enforcement of prohibitions of family visits by Cuban Americans, which have dropped by 54%, while visits of US nationals were 45% lower.

Nevertheless, the Cuban official said that US anti-Cuban policies are totally isolated, a fact that will be thoroughly corroborated by the upcoming November 8 vote at the UN General Assembly.

To obtain the full text of Cuba’s Report to the United Nations General Assembly on Resolution 60/12: “Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States of America against Cuba” connect to http://www.cubaminrex.cu/English/index.asp

It is also available in Arabic, Portuguese, Russian, Italian, French, English and Spanish.