Cuba affirms at the United Nations that the US Blockade Remains Intact

CUBA, September 29, 2009.  Cuba reiterated on Monday at the United Nations that the US blockade against the island is intact and constitutes "an act of unilateral aggression that should be brought to an end in the same way."

While addressing the plenary of the UN General Assembly, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said that the US government continues to ignore the demand of the international community of putting an end to the siege against Cuba, the Prensa Latina news agency reports.The Minister affirmed that the recent measures announced by the current US administration are a positive step, but one extremely limited and insufficient.
He explained that some of those regulations can’t be applied because other restrictions preventing their implementation remain unmodified.The Cuban official denounced "the immoral practice, extended over the last few days, of stealing Cuban funds frozen in US banks as well as other assets, under the protection of orders by venal judges who violate their own laws."
The FM affirmed that the President of the United States, Barack Obama, despite the existence of laws like the Helms-Burton, has wide-ranging powers, like licenses, by way of which he could modify the application of the blockade.
If a real will toward change existed, the US government could
authorize the export of Cuban goods and services to the United States and from that country to Cuba, he stated. Another example mentioned refers to the fact that the island can be able to purchase, anywhere in the world, a product with more than 10% of US components or technology, regardless of its brand or origin.
In addition, added the Rodriguez, the Treasury Department could refrain from pursuing, freezing and confiscate transfers from third countries in US dollars or other currencies destined to Cuban entities or nationals. (Cubaminrex-ACN)