ID :
27563
Thu, 10/30/2008 - 19:09
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/27563
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India asks US to lift economic embargo on Cuba
United Nation, Oct 30 (PTI) Strongly opposing unilateral
measures by countries which impinge on the sovereignty of others, India has asked the United States to lift the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed on Cuba 46 years ago.
Intervening in the General Assembly debate over a resolution asking Washington to lift the economic embargo, Indian delegate Rajeev Shukla criticised the American domestic laws which prohibit foreign companies as well as foreign subsidiaries of U.S. companies from doing business with Cuba.
The resolution, which is recommendatory in nature, has been routinely discussed and adopted by the 192-member Assembly for the past 17 years and ignored by the US.
Domestic US laws like the Cuba Democracy Act of 1992 and the Helms-Burton Act of 1996 have enhanced the territorial reach of the embargo, Shukla said adding that India supports categorical rejection of such laws by the international community.
He regretted that Washington has not respected the
repeated calls by the Assembly against imposition of laws and
regulations with extra-territorial impact and all other forms
of coercive economic measures.
"Despite the repeated calls of the General Assembly, its
resolutions remain unimplemented in contravention of world
opinion," he emphasised, adding that the the embargo, through
its extra-territorial effects, is adversely affecting the
Cuban people and the development efforts of the country.
"Health care is particularly affected due to access
controls on critical medical equipment, medicines,
technologies and diagnostic aids, apart from enhanced cost of
supplies," he said.
The restrictions had an unintended negative impact on
Cuba's efforts to provide assistance to other developing
countries, he pointed out.
"Cuba's efforts to provide assistance to fellow
developing countries as part of South-South cooperation has
also borne the brunt of the embargo making this another
unexpected indirect negative extra-territorial impact of the
embargo," he added.
Shukla drew the attention of the delegates to the report
by the U.N. Resident Coordinator in Havana, who has noted that
the negative impact of the embargo is pervasive in the social,
economic and environmental dimensions of human development in
Cuba, severely affecting the most vulnerable socio-economic
groups of the Cuban population.
Besides, the Indian delegate said the embargo has
seriously affected the implementation of the United Nations
system's projects and programmes in the country.
But despite the embargo, the U.S. continues to be a major
source of imports for Cuba insofar as permitted by the US
Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000, he
said.
"This only serves to confirm the potential for trade,
commerce and investment between these countries," he said.
Thus, the embargo also has significant detrimental effect
on US trade and business opportunities, Shukla said, adding
that various efforts in the US itself to relax or lift the
embargo indicate the interest, particularly in the business
sector, for unhindered access to the Cuban markets.
"We, therefore, look forward to the lifting of sanctions
and embargo against Cuba," he added. PTI
measures by countries which impinge on the sovereignty of others, India has asked the United States to lift the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed on Cuba 46 years ago.
Intervening in the General Assembly debate over a resolution asking Washington to lift the economic embargo, Indian delegate Rajeev Shukla criticised the American domestic laws which prohibit foreign companies as well as foreign subsidiaries of U.S. companies from doing business with Cuba.
The resolution, which is recommendatory in nature, has been routinely discussed and adopted by the 192-member Assembly for the past 17 years and ignored by the US.
Domestic US laws like the Cuba Democracy Act of 1992 and the Helms-Burton Act of 1996 have enhanced the territorial reach of the embargo, Shukla said adding that India supports categorical rejection of such laws by the international community.
He regretted that Washington has not respected the
repeated calls by the Assembly against imposition of laws and
regulations with extra-territorial impact and all other forms
of coercive economic measures.
"Despite the repeated calls of the General Assembly, its
resolutions remain unimplemented in contravention of world
opinion," he emphasised, adding that the the embargo, through
its extra-territorial effects, is adversely affecting the
Cuban people and the development efforts of the country.
"Health care is particularly affected due to access
controls on critical medical equipment, medicines,
technologies and diagnostic aids, apart from enhanced cost of
supplies," he said.
The restrictions had an unintended negative impact on
Cuba's efforts to provide assistance to other developing
countries, he pointed out.
"Cuba's efforts to provide assistance to fellow
developing countries as part of South-South cooperation has
also borne the brunt of the embargo making this another
unexpected indirect negative extra-territorial impact of the
embargo," he added.
Shukla drew the attention of the delegates to the report
by the U.N. Resident Coordinator in Havana, who has noted that
the negative impact of the embargo is pervasive in the social,
economic and environmental dimensions of human development in
Cuba, severely affecting the most vulnerable socio-economic
groups of the Cuban population.
Besides, the Indian delegate said the embargo has
seriously affected the implementation of the United Nations
system's projects and programmes in the country.
But despite the embargo, the U.S. continues to be a major
source of imports for Cuba insofar as permitted by the US
Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000, he
said.
"This only serves to confirm the potential for trade,
commerce and investment between these countries," he said.
Thus, the embargo also has significant detrimental effect
on US trade and business opportunities, Shukla said, adding
that various efforts in the US itself to relax or lift the
embargo indicate the interest, particularly in the business
sector, for unhindered access to the Cuban markets.
"We, therefore, look forward to the lifting of sanctions
and embargo against Cuba," he added. PTI
