"Havana hopes Baku will support UN resolution to end blockade against Cuba"

Cuba hopes that Azerbaijan will vote for the UN resolution calling on to end economic, trade and financial blockade against Cuba imposed by the United States, Cuban Ambassador to Azerbaijan Marcelo Caballero Torres said.

"We expect that Azerbaijan, as a friendly country, will vote for our resolution at the UN. We hope that Azerbaijan will be with us," Torres added.

On Oct. 26, Cuba will present a draft resolution entitled "Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba" at the UN General Assembly for 19 consecutive years.

In 2009, 187 countries voted for, while three countries - the U.S., Israel and Palau - were against the resolution.

October 19 saw a 50th year of introduction of the U.S economic sanctions on Cuba. The United States announced economic blockade against Cuban Republic in 1960. In 1962, in wake of the Caribbean crisis, the sanctions became tougher and even turned into an embargo which is still in place.

The U.S. move has been repeatedly condemned by the world community. The UN General Assembly has annually adopted a resolution demanding to lift the embargo for 18 consecutive years. The next and also 19th voting in the General Assembly on a resolution protesting against U.S. blockade against Cuba imposed almost 50 years ago is scheduled for Oct. 26.

According to Torres, the blockade is the main obstacle to the country's development.

The current U.S. administration should lift the ban on use of dollar in international operations in  Cuba, lift the ban on use of credit and debit cards, personal and traveler's cheques issued by the U.S. banks or banks of the third countries, expand import of medicines and medical products manufactured in Cuba, as well as the payments corresponding to the Cuban exporters; lift a ban for Cuban companies to take part in transportation of guests from the U.S. to Cuba and back, from Cuba to the U.S. and back, the Cuban authorities believe.

In September, the U.S. once again extended the trade embargo on Cuba. This time economic sanctions against Cuba will be in effect for a year - until Sept. 14, 2011.

Havana sees the continuation of economic pressure by Washington as "genocide against the Cuban people."

The international community considers the U.S. embargo illegal, because the United States, in this case, tries to use its domestic laws towards the third countries having trade, economic and financial ties.

The blockade of Cuba is illegal and must be ceased immediately, Torres noted.


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