India calls for end to US embargo against Cuba

India today called for an immediate end to the nearly half-century old US embargo against Cuba, saying it has undermined development of the country and affected the economic prosperity of the Cuban people.

"On the one hand we, the global community, make tall promises on Millennium Development Goals, of striving for human dignity and achieving equitable growth, but when it comes to action, we do the exact opposite," Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed said in the UN.

He said India supports the resolution moved by Cuba and joins other nations in calling for an immediate end to the economic, commercial and financial embargo against Havana.

Terming as "unfortunate" the continued US embargo on Cuba, Ahamed said India sees this as a "violation of the world opinion, and an act that severely undermines multilateralism and the credibility of the United Nations itself."

The UN General Assembly also renewed its call for the 20th consecutive year for an end to the embargo.

In a resolution adopted by 186 votes in favour to two against (Israel and the US), the Assembly reiterated its call to all States to refrain from applying laws and measures not conforming with their obligations to reaffirm freedom of trade.

Introducing the text, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla said the US has never hidden the fact that the objective of the embargo—which he said has caused more than $975 billion in damage to the Cuban people—is to overthrow his country’s government.