Vietnam urges end to US embargo against Cuba

New York (VNA) - Vietnam urges the US to put an end to the economic,
commercial and financial embargo against Cuba and reaffirmed its support for
and solidarity with the Government and people of Cuba.

"The United States' unilateral commercial and financial embargo against
Cuba represents a violation of international law, including international
laws relating to the freedom of trade and navigation and non-interference in
internal affairs of States, " said Vietnam's Permanent Representative to
the UN Ambassador Le Luong Minh at the plenary meeting of the 63 rd session
of the UN General Assembly in New York on Oct. 29 .

He went on to say that the embargo runs counter to universally recognized
norms governing relations between sovereign countries regardless of their
political systems and their choices of path of development and to the
fundamental principles, purposes and spirit enshrined in the UN Charter.

The diplomat noted that the prolonged and intensified embargo imposed by the
US has been causing serious economic and trade damage worth billions of US
dollars not only to Cuba, but also to other countries desirous of conducting
their normal and mutually beneficial economic, financial and trade relations
with this peace-loving country.

He added that the embargo also inflicts tremendous hardships and suffering
on the Cuban people, particularly women and children as well as the country's
efforts to implement the UN Millennium Development Goals passed by the UN
General Assembly eight years ago.
Noting that disputes among states should and can be resolved through
peaceful dialogue and negotiations on the basis of equality, mutual respect
for each other's independence and sovereignty and the principle of
non-interference in internal affairs of states, Vietnam demands the ending
of the embargo because the continuant of which serves no other purpose than
intensifying tension between the two neighbouring countries and in the
region.-Enditem