US blockade caused huge economic losses, suffering for Cubans: FM

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
13 Sep 2024 08:58

Bruno Rodriguez condemns Cuba's inclusion on the US "state sponsors of terrorism" list and thanks international supporters against the US blockade.

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Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez leaves after giving a press conference about the upcoming G77 + China summit in Havana, Cuba, Wednesday, September 13, 2023, Cuba will host the summit September 15-16. (AP)

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez confirmed, on Friday, that the US blockade which has lasted for 60 years, has caused enormous economic losses, leading to profound suffering for the Cuban people.

During a press conference in Havana on the effects of the economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed by the United States on Cuba, Rodriguez stated that "the fight against the unjust US blockade unites us in the defense of our rights and dignity."

Rodriguez explained that the US economic blockade imposed on Cuba resulted in losses estimated at more than five billion US dollars during the period from March 2023 to February 2024.

The Cuban foreign minister also pointed out that the main obstacle to the recovery of the economy is the US economic, commercial, and financial blockade, which has been imposed for more than six decades and has caused severe damage affecting all aspects of life in Cuba.

Havana demands removal from US list of alleged 'state sponsors of terrorism'

Rodriguez condemned his country’s inclusion in the US list of "state sponsors of terrorism", asserting that it is another form of Washington's aggressive policy against Havana that lacks any legal basis. The most recent instance of this was the announcement by the US National Institutes of Health to close the investigation into the alleged "sonic attacks" due to a lack of evidence supporting their validity.

Rodriguez also expressed his deep gratitude to the parliaments and governments of various countries, trade unions, popular organizations, and solidarity groups around the world for standing with Cuba in its struggle against the US blockade and calling for its cancellation and condemnation.

The Cuban foreign minister further demanded the removal of Cuba's name from the arbitrary and unfounded US list of "state sponsors of terrorism," which constitutes a clear and explicit violation of the United Nations Charter and international law.

The United Nations General Assembly is scheduled to vote on September 29 and 30 for the 32nd consecutive time on a Cuban draft resolution calling for an end to the blockade, which annually receives international consensus but gets opposed by the United States and "Israel".