Sabbagh: Syria stresses the necessity of lifting the unjust US blockade imposed on Cuba

New York, (ST) – Syria’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Bassam Sabbagh reiterated Syria’s firm and continuous support for the steadfastness of the friendly Cuban people in the face of the unjust and illegal American blockade imposed on them since 1962. He affirmed Syria’s full commitment and strong support for United Nations resolutions calling for an immediate end to the imposed economic, commercial and financial blockade, which constitutes a flagrant violation of human rights, international humanitarian law, and relevant international legitimacy resolutions.

In a statement before the General Assembly yesterday on (the necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States on Cuba), Sabbagh said that this US embargo imposed on Cuba is considered the longest-term and most prolonged unilateral coercive measure.  He added that this embargo is a serious threat, and the main obstacle to achieving the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Sabbagh said that Syria’s delegation is proud that it has consistently voted in favor of the draft resolution that is presented to the General Assembly every year. The annual vote on this resolution and the result of which is close to achieving international consensus is a strong message calling on successive US administrations to lift their unjust blockade of the Cuban people. “This consensus calls to abandon US’s policies based on imposing illegal unilateral sanctions on the Cuban people”, he added.

Sabbagh went on to say that targeting all sources of income in the country and intimidating governments, banking institutions and businessmen all over the world that deal with Cuba has negatively impacted the living situation of Cubans and their security.

Sabbagh stressed that the Syrian Arab Republic, like Cuba and a number of other countries, is still to this day the target of many unilateral and illegal coercive measures imposed by the United States unilaterally and illegally, outside the framework of the United Nations and international legitimacy. “These measures represent economic terrorism against my country”, he said.

Sabbagh added that this economic terrorism against my country affected every Syrian in his daily life, deprived him of obtaining his basic needs, and limited the ability of the Syrian government to provide services and support to those in need.

Sabbagh concluded by saying that it is no longer acceptable for anyone to call for respect for the Charter of the United Nations, international humanitarian law and international human rights law, without demanding an immediate cessation of these unjust, immoral and inhuman measures imposed by some countries against other countries.

Raghda Sawas