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13:01-.The resolution is approved.

Photo: Screen shot
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13:00-. This year’s result: 191 in favor and two against (the United States and Israel).

Photo: screen shot
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12:55-.The General Assembly will now vote on the Cuban resolution against the blockade.
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12:45-. The voices of representatives chanting “Cuba sí, bloqueo no” (Cuba yes, blockade no) can be heard.
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12:45-. On behalf of the Cuban people I ask you to vote in favor of this resolution, concluded Rodríguez Parrilla.
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12:40-. We thank Cuba’s youth for their commitment against imperialism and to defend our sovereignty. We shall be forever loyal to the eternal legacy of José Martí and Fidel Castro Ruz, he stated.
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12:40-. The Cuban diplomat, citing Simon Bolívar stated: “The United States seems destined by Providence to plague America with misery in the name of liberty.”

He also mentioned the process of democratic elections currently taking place in Cuba.
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12:35-. Bruno also condemned remarks by the U.S. representative against Venezuela.
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12:35-. Rodríguez Parrilla, expressed thanks on behalf of Cuba for all the governments, political forces, parliaments and the majority of U.S. citizens, who have lent their voices and vote to efforts to end the blockade.
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12:35-. Regarding damage caused by the blockade, the Cuban Foreign Minister noted that in April 2017, German firm Eckert & Ziegler Radiopharma Gmbh refused to sell Medicuba S.A a Ge-68/Ga-68 Gallia Pharm GMP Generator and its components, a device used to diagnose prostate cancer.
According to Eckert & Ziegler Radiopharma Gmbh, the firm was prevented from selling the product directly to Cuba or via a third country, due to blockade restrictions.
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12:30-. During the course of this year, Cuba’s medical products import and export entity Medicuba S.A made various requests to purchase supplies from 18 U.S. companies, all of which were unsuccessful.
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12:30-. The blockade continues to be a massive, flagrant and systematic violation of the human rights of all Cuban and qualifies as an act of genocide under the 1948 UN  Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. It is also an obstacle to the intentional humanitarian cooperation Cuba offers in 81 countries of the South.
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12:28-.The damages caused by the implementation of the blockade throughout almost six decades have been estimated at 822,280,000,000 dollars, taking into account the devaluation of the US dollar vis-à-vis the price of gold in the world market. At current prices, the quantifiable damages caused by the blockade have been estimated at more than 130,178,600,000 dollars, stated Rodríguez Parrilla, who went on to note that between April 2016 and March 2017, the damages caused by the blockade to Cuba have been estimated at 4,305,400,000 USD.
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12:28-. Today Cuba is presenting for the 26th consecutive time, its report on the resolution entitled: “Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States of America against Cuba.”
The blockade is the greatest obstacle to the country’s development, and main barrier to the development of economic and financial relations with the United States and the rest of the world, stated the Cuban Foreign Minister.

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12:25-. As President Raúl has stated; we reaffirm that any attempt to destroy the Revolution will fail, and that Cuba is willing to continue negotiations with the U.S. on the basis of respectful dialogue and respect for our sovereignty and our differences, stated the island’s Foreign Minister.
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12:25-.Bruno also noted that the expulsion of Cuban personnel from the island’s Embassy in Washington has affected its ability to attend both Cuban and U.S. citizens, while the withdrawal of staff from the U.S. Embassy in Havana has practically paralyzed services there.

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12:20-.Hurting individuals and their families to achieve political objectives, is unjustifiable, he noted.
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12:20-. Regarding the supposed sonic attacks, Bruno stated that such allegations are just a pretext to implement new measures against the island.
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12:20-.Trump has reiterated that his government will not lift the blockade unless Cuba makes changes to its internal order, but I reaffirm that Cuba will not accept conditions or impositions, stated the Foreign Minister.
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12:18-. He also highlighted a return by the U.S. to the outdated policies of the past in order to satisfy a minority in Florida, citing the new Cuba policy announced by Trump; which includes prohibitions on trade, and restricts U.S. citizens from traveling to Cuba.
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12:18-. The Cuban minister criticized the lack of social protections and programs in the U.S., as well as gender based discrimination, the death penalty, murder and repression of immigrants, and measures which threaten the children of undocumented immigrants born in the U.S.
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12:18-. Bruno noted that Trump cannot pressure Cuba, despite his continued campaign of hate and division, and dismissal of calls by U.S. citizens to lift the blockade.

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12:15-. However, the Cuban official recalled the Cold War tone of Trump’s speech this past July before an auditorium full of anti-Cubans and Batista supporters.
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12:15-. He went on to describe the tangible results achieved since the process began, highlighting progress made in the fields of counter terrorism, drug trafficking, and cyber-crime.
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12:15-. Nonetheless, the Cuban minister recalled Obama’s pledge to work with the U.S. Congress to lift the blockade, as reflected by the country’s abstention from last year’s vote.
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12:12-. He went on to cite former U.S. President Barack Obama who, on announcing, along with President Raúl Castro, the start of the process toward the reestablishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, described the blockade as an obsolete and failed policy; but failed however to recognize it as a flagrant violation of human rights.
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12:12-. Cuba’s Foreign Minister recalled the history of the blockade, which was first implemented over 50 years ago, also highlighting the terrorist attacks and acts of subversion the island has endured over the years.
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12:10-. The history of the United States has been one of lies and aggression, and it has recently been revealed that years ago the U.S. government mobilized some 200,000 U.S. soldiers to invade the island.
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12:10-. Following the recent declassification of documents linked to the death of former U.S. President J.F. Kennedy, Bruno called for the same measure to be applied to all such materials.
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12:08-. He went on to describe the United States’ new Cuba policy, announced in June of this year by President Trump, as outdated and an antiquated relic of the past.
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12:08-. Bruno noted that the U.S. representative had lied when making reference to the October Crisis (Cuban Missile Crisis) and advised her to review her sources.
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12:08-. The Cuban Minister recalled the historic attempts by the U.S. to intervene in Cuba, citing the sinking of the Maine, and Platt Amendment.
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12:05-. Bruno explained that the remarks by the U.S. representative reflect those of an empire responsible for many of the wars currently raging throughout the world, and which threaten international security and violate the United Nations Charter.
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12:05-. He went on to vehemently condemn the interventionist remarks against Cuba, by the United States’ representative, noting that the U.S. commits flagrant human rights violations within its own country and has no authority to criticize a small, noble, hard working and solidarity nation such as Cuba.
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12:05-. Cuba’s Foreign Minister expressed his condolences to the U.S. people and government for the terrorist attack which occurred yesterday afternoon in New York.
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12:00-. Next up, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez.

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11:32-.He emphasized that the blockade has had a negative impact on key sectors of Cuba’s economy, interfering with the country’s ability to meet the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

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11:32-. The representative from Egypt expressed his country’s adherence to the positions against the blockade taken by the Non-aligned Movement, the Group of 77 plus China, and the Islamic Group, conveying the Egyptian people’s support for the Cuban people.

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11:25-.He recalled the words of Nelson Mandela, who always said that the island country was a great example of solidarity and service to others.

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11:25-.The Plurinational State of Bolivia’s representative denounced the blockade as an example of the unilateral way the U.S. functions internationally, adding that the country is in no position to give lessons in democracy.

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11:18-.Expressing his nation’s support for the Cuban resolution, India’s representative stated, “The General Assembly has rejected all types of coercive, unilateral measures… that have extraterritorial characteristics, and the blockade is one of these.”

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11:15-.The representative from Paraguay confirmed that his country supports positions taken by the Non-aligned movement and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean Nations (CELAC) against the blockade, and adds its voice to condemn unilateral actions that negatively impact relations between nations, and create obstacles to development.

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11:10-.She added that ending the blockade would be beneficial for Cuba and the entire world, emphasizing that Vietnam opposes all oppressive policies directed against another sovereign country.

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11:08-.Vietnam’s representative cited declarations made by the Association of South East Asian Nations and the Non-aligned Movement, saying that the blockade was a violation of international law and the longest, most unjust policy in history.

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11:05-.She recognized that the United States is alone in the “struggle” to maintain the blockade, but that the General Assembly has no authority to oblige the United States to end the sanctions it has imposed on Cuba, saying the debate was “theater,” totally disregarding the United Nation’s role in maintaining world peace and stability.

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11:00-.She stated that the Assembly was wasting its time analyzing the resolution, that the U.S. would not be distracted and would vote against it.

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11:00-.The United States’ representative, Nikki Haley, began her remarks with interventionist statements befitting the Cold War era, indicating that the country’s hostile policy toward Cuba will continue.

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10:55-. The Venezuelan official sated that the blockade violates the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of all states, and called on the U.S. to put an end to its aggressive and isolationist policy.

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10:50-. He went on to explain how the policy negatively impacts the human rights of Cubans, and the obstacles it creates to the island’s ability to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, approved by the UN in 2015.

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10:50-.NAM has reiterated its call to the United States to lift the blockade, which violates the United Nations Charter and Cuba’s right to interact with the intentional community, he noted.

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10:50-. Next, Venezuela’s representative, speaking on behalf of Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), noted that over recent years the UN General Assembly has shown its support for the Cuban people, and in 2016, 191 countries voted in favor of the resolution to end the U.S. blockade of the island.

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10:40-. Meanwhile, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s representative, noted that the United States’ decision to abstain from last year’s vote represented a sign of hope for the international community.

He went on the express OIC member states’ concern over the United States new Cuba policy, noting that the blockade continues to be the main obstacle to the island’s economic development.

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10:35-. She explained that Caricom believes that Cuba and the United States should live in harmony and respect one another’s differences, and expressed the organization’s hope that sanctions against the island will be lifted.

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10:32-. She went on to note how the policy negatively impacts the region’s development and violates the United Nations Charter and International Law, and highlighting international opposition to the blockade, which she described as “unilateral and unnecessary.”
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10:32-.She reiterated that expressed by previous speakers, stating that CARICOM also demands an end to the U.S. blockade of Cuba.

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10:32-.Meanwhile the official from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, representing the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), also condemned the New York attacks.
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10:30-.The Celac representative condemned the policy which represents a violation of international law, calling on the U.S. to eliminate it in its entirety.
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10:28-. He went on to note that we Latin American countries “regret the United States’ new policy which seeks to tighten the blockade and marks a step back in diplomatic relations between Cuba and the United States.”
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10:28-. Next to address the Assembly was El Salvador’s representative, speaking on behalf of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac), who highlighted the quantifiable damage caused by the U.S. blockade of Cuba.

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10:25-. Finally he urged the U.S and Cuba to continue working together to improve diplomatic relations.
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10:25-. In the name of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Singapore’s representative to the UN expressed his condolences for the yesterday’s attack in New York; before reaffirming the Association’s opposition to the blockade; noting that conflicts between states must be resolved through dialogue and not confrontation.

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10:20-. Speaking on behalf of his country and the Group of 77 plus China, Ecuador’s representative to the UN expressed his regret at the continued application of the U.S. blockade against Cuba.
He noted that despite the limited nature of measures taken by former President Barack Obama, they were headed in the right direction; and criticized those announced in June of this year by current President Donald Trump, which marked a setback in relations between the two countries.
“The unilateral sanctions against Cuba must end. We express our strong opposition to these measures,” he stated.
The UN representative went on to describe the negative impact of the blockade on Cuba’s economy. “For years Cuba has contributed to the international community, above all in the field of health. The Group praises their actions and believes that if the United States definitively lifts its blockade, Cuba will have more opportunities to help nations affected by any kind of disaster, epidemic or catastrophe.”

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10:15-.Fifty-five years have passed, he said, since the policy was imposed unilaterally, and two decades since the international community first made a majority call for its elimination, saying, “It is unfortunate that after progress in relations between Cuba and the United States was made during the previous U.S. administration, a step back was been taken, that requires an immediate solution.”

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10:10-.He reiterated in the name of the group support for the resolution, noting the position taken by the Group of 77+China, saying that the blockade was an issue for the continent and had been discussed at the African Union Summit.

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10:08-.The first speaker is the representative from Gabon, speaking for the Africa group, who begins his remarks expressing his condolences to vitims of the attack which occurred in New York yesterday.

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10:05-.Presentation of the Resolution: The necessity of ending the economic, commercial, financial blockade of Cuba imposed by the United States of America, begins in the General Assembly.

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10:00-.From New York, Venezuela’s ambassador to the UN, Rafael Ramírez satated on Twitter, “We will be voting in favor of the resolution rejecting the U.S. blockade of Cuba.

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Granma follows events as they happen during the United Nations General Assembly vote on the U.S. economic blockade of Cuba
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9:42 -. From early this morning, social media users have been expressing their support for an end to the blockade of Cuba; with the hashtag #NoMasBloqueo gaining traction on the Internet.
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9:42 -. Today, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla will speak during the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly in New York, during which he will present a report on the damage caused Cuba by the U.S. blockade, imposed since 1962.
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9:40 -.In 2016, the resolution presented by Cuba against the blockade was approved by the overwhelming majority of countries, with 191 voting in favor; two abstentions (the United States and Israel) and none against.

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9:35 -. The U.S. blockade of Cuba is the greatest obstacle to the island’s development and well-being of its people. The extraterritorial nature of the policy also affects third countries and institutions, imposing barriers to economic, commercial and financial relations between Cuba, the United States and the rest of the world.
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9:30 -.For the 26th time, Cuba will present its resolution: The need to put an end of the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States of America, at the UN General Assembly.