Russian State Duma calls for end to US blockade on Cuba

 HAVANA, Cuba, Oct 29 (ACN) The Russian State Duma defended Cuba's right to live without a blockade, with the approval of an appeal to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on the need to put an end to the hostile policy of the United States.

The document, approved just today, when the debate on the issue begins at the UNGA headquarters (New York), stresses the extraterritorial nature of the US sanctions and their impact on the Cuban economy and society.

According to the Cuban foreign ministry, the statement says that for more than 60 years the economic, commercial and financial blockade against Cuba has directly violated the inalienable right of the Cuban people to choose an independent political, economic and socio-cultural system.

Russian parliamentarians pointed out that the coercive measures applied by the White House have a negative impact on the Cuban economy, in terms of energy, agriculture, health, tourism and humanitarian cooperation.

They also stressed that the U.S. policy has a negative impact on the social situation of Cuba, worsens the financial situation of millions of people, obstructs the stable supply of food, fuel and medicines, thus harming the health and welfare of the population.

As for their extraterritorial character, the Russian State Duma affirms that Washington's sanctions are the main obstacle to the development of equal partnership relations with Havana by a number of states and international organizations.

In addition, it considers that the measures adopted by the United States unilaterally, ignoring UN resolutions, violate the legitimate rights and interests of Cuban citizens residing in other countries.

The dispatch, issued in Moscow, stresses that the appeal is also addressed to the Parliaments of the member states of the United Nations and other international parliamentary organizations.