Radio Havana Cuba, viewpoint 10 november 1999 Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit CUBANEWS FROM RADIO HAVANA CUBA E-mail: rhc@radiohc.org http://www.radiohc.org RADIO HAVANA CUBA'S VIEWPOINT 10 November 1999 "Overwhelming" and "smashing" are two adjectives that best describe Tuesday's vote on the resolution condemning Washington's blockade of Cuba in the United Nations General Assembly. Overwhelming and smashing because 157 countries clearly voiced their rejection of the U.S. imposed economic, commercial and financial blockade of the island. This, in spite of the intense pressures brought against a number of member-nations by representatives of the United States -- urging them to vote against the Cuban resolution and, essentially, for the blockade. Washington's efforts to change votes by coercion could not have prevented the inevitable -- but the U.S. had hoped to at least make the vote not so overwhelming and smashing. So, for the eighth consecutive year, Washington's representatives at the United Nations had to swallow defeat -- and they were almost completely left alone... with only Tel Aviv to help comfort them in their little corner at the General Assembly. The vote count speaks for itself: 155 countries voted in favor of the Cuban resolution to end the U.S. blockade. That number should have actually been 157 because two countries stated that they voted favorably, but that there were problems with their electronic voting devices. Only eight countries abstained and 12 were not present when the vote was taken. And the vote could have been even more overwhelming had six countries that always vote against the blockade been able to cast their ballots. They lost their voting rights when they were unable to pay past debts to the international body. Just prior to Tuesday's vote in the UN General Assembly, Cuban Parliament President Ricardo Alarcon stated that the United States has not respected previous resolutions passed by the majority of UN member-states. Alarcon also pointed out that Washington has actually tightened its economic blockade against Cuba since the UN resolutions were introduced in 1992 -- the Torricelli and Helms-Burton Laws, in addition to a number of legislative amendments and executive orders. During his speech before the General Assembly, the Cuban leader referred to the multi-billion dollar lawsuit against the U.S. government, charging Washington with more than 40 years of aggressions against the Cuban Revolution. Tuesday's overwhelming vote in favor of Cuba and the smashing defeat for the U.S. reaffirms the heroic resistance of the Cuban people. Despite Washington's genocidal blockade against the island, Cuba continues to grow economically. It is this continued resistance and economic growth that will, in the end, force the United States to abandon its criminal policy. Next week, the 9th Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State and Government will be celebrated here in Havana. Cuba, the host country -- with its undeniable social and economic achievements -- is a little bit stronger today... given that international support for its rightful demand for an end to U.S. aggression. [c] 1999, Radio Habana Cuba All rights reserved Articles cannot be reproduced, reprinted or published in any system without the consent of RHC. This prohibition includes the distribution of this material via Usenet News, "bulletin board" services, e-mail lists, print media, radio and television. For the complete RADIO HAVANA CUBA NEWSCAST and other features, please write for our daily broadcast schedule. We welcome your comments and suggestions. For further information, contact us at: Postal Address: Radio Havana Cuba P.O.Box 6240 Havana, Cuba Telephone: (53) (7) 791053 Fax: (53) (7) 795007 E-mail: rhc@radiohc.org WWW: http://www.radiohc.org rhc-eng-27479 1999-Nov-11 01:06:23