Rejection of US Blockade Imposed on Cuba Increases

Havana, Aug 29.- In several sectors of North American society, the rejection of the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed on Cuba by Washington for almost six decades has increased.

Despite the intensification of this unilateral policy by the government of President Donald Trump in order to stop the process of normalization of bilateral relations that began in 2014, in the northern nation there are more voices in favor of the elimination of the siege.

Groups like Engage Cuba and CubaNow, whose objective is to promote the links between Havana and Washington and promote the elimination of the blockade, are an example of this, the annual report on the effects of the blockade on society and the impact of its extraterritorial component stresses.

Published by the Foreign Ministry of the Caribbean island, the text details that on June 6, 2017, the Michigan State Senate adopted a resolution to request the United States Congress to develop and improve trade relations with Cuba.

Meanwhile, a few days later, the Engage Cuba group and the MorningConsult company revealed the results of a survey related to Cuba, in which it was learned that the majority of voters registered as Republicans support the elimination of trade and travel restrictions to Cuba.

Also last year, the Florida Atlantic University published the results of a survey on Cuba, which showed that only 34 percent of residents in that state support Trump's policy.

For his part, in August 2017, Senator Ron Wyden presented a bill for trade between Cuba and the United States with the aim of repealing sanctions against the island and establishing normal trade relations between both countries.

In addition, a coalition of 28 tour operators and companies specializing in educational trips to the Caribbean nation demanded the reduction of restrictions on the travel of US citizens to Cuba in a statement addressed to Trump.

Days ago, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the island published the text on the resolution 72/4 of the General Assembly of the United Nations (UN), entitled 'Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States of America against Cuba.'

The document collects the damages of the unilateral measure between April 2017 and March 2018 and illustrates the effects of the siege ahead of a new vote, on October 31, at the UN General Assembly.

For 26 years, the international community supports similar initiatives in the multilateral organization, where the US blockade receives qualifications such as crime, injustice, violation of human rights, an obstacle to development and relics of the Cold War. (Prensa Latina)