Harmful effects on medicine of the U.S. blockade

If there is one sector of life which daily suffers the effects of the U.S. blockade of Cuba, it is the field of medicine, officials from the Ministry of Public Health import agency confirmed here today.

For example, when a machine breaks down, the spare parts have to be acquired in distant markets, with the consequent increase in freight costs, given the restrictions of the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by Washington since 1962, said Fernando Martín García, vice president of Medicuba.

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Luis Orlando Oliveros Serrano, Medicuba’s commercial vice president, pointed out that the majority of medicaments imported by Cuba come from distant regions, given the impossibility of acquiring them in the country’s natural geographic market, the United States, or from a U.S. subsidiary.

The magnitude of the damage in this context can be more keenly appreciated taking into account that 350 of the basic spectrum of 800 medicaments used in Cuba have to be imported, centrally those related to organ transplants, in vitro fertilization and fighting cancer, Oliveros continued.

These limitations, he added, also have an impact on medical equipment within the health system, imported in 90% of cases.

Nevertheless, the two officials affirmed that, despite the damage caused by the blockade, Cuba has never halted its international collaboration

USA has no Moral Authority to Include Cuba as State Sponsor of Terrorism

The Cuban government categorically rejected on Wednesday its renewed inclusion in the U.S. State Department’s unilateral and arbitrary list of State Sponsors of Terrorism.

“Cuba’s foreign ministry energetically rejects that such a sensitive issue as terrorism be used for petty political purposes and demands that the government of the United States stop lying,”  reads the statement.

Again, it is evident that the sole purpose of keeping Cuba on this list is to justify the policy of blockade against our country, and the future adoption of aggressive measures to strangle the Cuban economy and impose a regime that meets the interests of the United States, the Cuban Foreign Ministry added.

This time the US government used as pretext for Cuba’s inclusion alleged “deficiencies” found in Cuba’s efforts to uphold international standards for combating money laundering and the financing of terrorist groups.

Furthermore, the White House ignores the multiple and repeated calls from within the US to take Cuba, already subject to a full US economic blockade since 1962, off the terror list.

The Illegal Blockade 
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The international community’s growing and overwhelming opposition to the US blockade against Cuba is significant.

Innumerable voices have been raised around the world to call for an end of this inhumane policy. In the period covered by this report, numerous pronouncements in favor of the immediate and unconditional lifting of the blockade have been made.

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US Blockade Prevents Cuba from Fully Implementing Biological Weapons Convention

The 50+ year US economic, financial, political and commercial blockade of Cuba is the main obstacle for the island to fully implement the UN Biological Weapons Convention, said the Cuban representative in Geneva.

During a meeting of experts with the parties of the UN Convention, Cuban representative Juan Antonio Quintanilla denounced that the US measure hinders cooperation, assistance and international exchange in terms of biological sciences and technologies, including the exchange, with peaceful means, of equipment and materials, according to an article posted on the website of the Cuban Foreign Ministry.

The US blockade imposes strong restrictions on the purchase by Cuban hospitals of medications, lab reagents, vaccines, biological protection and diagnostic means, as well as equipment if they are made in the United States or produced by subsidiaries of American companies based in third countries.

Also prohibited is the direct exchange by Cuban and US scientists dedicated to the control of infectious diseases, which is crucial for the full deployment of their responsibilities, said the Cuban diplomat.

Meanwhile, Cuban research centers cannot access US websites providing important scientific information, such as specialized publications that may contribute to update knowledge on the new advances of biological sciences and technologies in the field.

Cuba will continue to denounce the unilateral, absurd, illegal and morally unsustainable US blockade, Quintanilla pointed out and noted that such measure must be lifted as repeatedly demanded by the overwhelming majority of the international community at the UN General Assembly.

Source

Florida Governor Sings New Law Stiffening Economic Blockade of Cuba

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Florida Governor Rick Scott signed a bill on Tuesday that prohibits state and local governments from contracting with companies that have business ties to Cuba and Syria.

The piece of legislation, sponsored by Republic Senator Rene Garcia of Hialeah and Representative Michael Bileca of Miami, is seen as a “gesture” towards the coveted Cuban-American right-wing voters in Florida.

“The governments of Cuba and Syria are two of the only four countries that the United States designates as state sponsors of terrorism and the money of Florida taxpayers should not in any way contribute to support them,” Scott said upon signing the bill.

The controversial law has received strong criticism from the Florida Chamber of Commerce and from Florida’s top two trading partners, Brazil and Canada, who have warned the measure could discourage investment from foreign firms.

The piece of legislation goes into effect on July 1 and it affects future state and local government contracts worth at least $1 million.

(acn)

Cuban Emigres Champion Improvement of Cuba-US Relations.

Members of Cuban American for Engagement (CAFE) demanded relations between Washington and Havana to be more flexible. 

Members of C.A.F.E with Rep Jim McGovern

Members of the group of emigres held meetings in both the State Department and the Congress’ offices, where they declared themselves to be in favor of policies favoring more exchanges with Cuba, including the removal of the travel ban, so all US citizens can travel to the Caribbean island.

The CAFE delegation reaffirmed that that community of emigres in the US doesn’t feel represented by the stances of the Cuban-Americans currently holding positions as senators and congresspersons at the Capitol in Washington.

According to the communiqué issued by the group, during the meetings with officials of the US diplomacy and Congress, the members of CAFE recalled that, as shown by recent surveys, there’s majority rejection with respect to any reversion of the measure that makes family trips and people-to-people contacts more flexible, adopted by the Barack Obama administration.

During the meeting at the State Department, CAFE reaffirmed its opposition to any policy of the Helms-Burton Law, something in which it asserted to coincide with the view of the majority of Cubans on the island and in the Diaspora, and championed the maintenance of cultural exchanges between the two nations. The Cuban emigres also met with officials of the Cuban Interests Section in the United States.

The CAFE group is made up by Cuban emigres living in the states of Florida, Illinois, Colorado, Massachusetts, New York, Virginia and Kentucky, and has the support of the Latin American Working Group (LAWG) and of the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA).

(acn April 28)

US Anti-Cuba Blockade Policy Punishes German Bank

The United States Treasury Department Office for Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed on the New York branch of Germany's Commerzbank a fine of $175,000 for accepting transactions that violate the 50-year blockade on the Republic of Cuba
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The US government claims the second largest bank in Germany was the consultant in a September 2005 transaction between a Cuban company and a Canadian partner, on which Commerzbank never informed the OFAC.
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This report of the Treasury terms the operation a notorious case of violation of US Laws and "Commerzbank should be aware of the prohibitions concerning the Cuba Case (.....) to prevent such violations in the future." 
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Last November 186 among 191 countries voted for the 20th consecutive occasion at the UN General Assembly against the anti-Cuba coercive policy by every US Administration from the triumph of the Revolution.
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The government of Cuba has been exposing in world forums documented evidence of the over $975 billion loss it has endured through nearly six decades of commercial harassment.
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This very year and before the case of the German bank, JP Morgan Chase paid a $88.3M fine for alleged transgression of White House regulations to deal with Cuba, with the Treasury claiming that JP Morgan participated in 1,711 transfers for $176 million involving either private people or Cuban institutions.
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Earlier, the US branch of CMA-CNG, the third largest container shipping company, was fined $374,400 for transporting cargo to Havana.
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In December 2008, Credit Swisse Bank paid a $536M sanction because of its financial agreements with Cuba.
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In January this year, US President Barack Obama introduced slight changes to the regulations on the US blockade but the most stringent terms remain in force.
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He did approve of trips to Cuba for academic, religious, cultural or sports events, within a framework Washington defines as "promotion of people-to-people contacts." 
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Click here to read Cuba’sReport of Resolution 65/6

UN: U.S. Blockade Condemned for 20th Year

The UN General Assembly approved by an overwhelming majority the resolution demanding an end of the US blockade of Cuba, a vote passed by the assembly for the 20th consecutive year.
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This year 186 UN member states voted in favour of the resolution, while 2 voted against (the United States, Israel) and three abstained (Marshall Islands, Micronesia and Palau). 
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The resolution calling for an end to the blockade has been approved on 20 occasions with backing that has grown steadily from 59 votes in 1992 to the 186 today.
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Before the vote, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla spoke before the General Assembly and noted that it would have seemed impossible two decades ago that the United nations would be still discussing the same issue.
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He described the 50-year long blockade as an act of genocide. “The object of the blockade is to weaken the lives of Cubans and to cause hunger. The US has never hidden the fact that it wants regime change in Cuba.” 
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Rodriguez added that the Obama Administration has spiked its chase of Cuban money transactions throughout the world, showing no respect whatsoever to the laws or governments of third countries. He also pointed out that Cuba cannot use US dollars in its transactions, or freely import or export products, including medicines, to and from the United States. 

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As an example of the criminal policy, Rodriguez recalled the seizure by the US government of some 4 million dollars the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria had allocated for programs to be carried out in Cuba.
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After explaining how the blockade had cost Cuba close to a trillion dollars in losses in the last 50 years, Rodriguez urged the world representatives to back up the resolution, on behalf of his people.
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Read Cuba’s Report on Resolution 65/6

here

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Download Cuba’s Report on Resolution 65/6

Also See
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> CARICOM: U.S. Blockade of Cuba Is Anachronistic
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> Cuba-UN Bonds Continue to Strengthen

U.S. Blockade Hinders Fighting HIV/AIDS

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The US-imposed economic, trade and financial blockade hinders cooperation between Cuba and international multilateral agencies engaged in fighting HIV/AIDS.

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 In January 2011, the U.S. government seized 4.207.000 USD of the Global Fund finance to fight HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.
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Those resources would be allocated to implement cooperation projects with Cuba to fight the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and tuberculosis.
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This deliberate act has hampered the implementation of three projects whose significant impact on segments of the affected population is known; states a report on Resolution 65/6 of the UN General Assembly entitled "The Necessity of Ending the Economic, Commercial, and Financial Blockade Imposed by the United States of America against Cuba."

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The action is even more serious because it affects funding for training, prevention and treatment of people affected by HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis, particularly the purchase of medicines, antiretroviral drugs, and foods for sick people.
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Cuba denounced this measure as an illegal action that also seeks to seriously hamper international cooperation provided by the UN system through its agencies, funds and programs.
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Despite intensive and increasing demands from the international community to the U.S. government for a change towards Cuba, U.S. President Barack Obama maintains intact that policy, the text recalls.
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It is in essence and objectives, an act of unilateral aggression and a permanent threat to the stability of a country, the document states.
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The direct economic damage caused to Cuba, if we take into consideration the depreciation of the U.S. dollar against the value of gold in the international financial market, would exceed 975 billion USD.
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Read In Support of the Draft Resolution
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Click here to read Cuba’s Report of Resolution 65/6

US Blockade Against Cuba Rejected at UN General Assembly

Representatives from several countries have again criticized  the nearly 50-year-old economic, commercial and financial blockade maintained by the United States against Cuba at the 66th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Danilo Astori: contary to UN Charter

Prensa Latina reported that Uruguay’s Vice President Danilo Astori said Washington’s unilateral measure against Cuba is against the UN’s Charter, and added that his country condemns all types of violence, threats and the irrational use of force and terrorism.
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In his address to the Assembly, the Uruguayan Vice President also said his government considers all the conditions required for the UN to recognize Palestine as its 194th full member have been met, as requested by President Mahmoud Abbas on Friday before the UN’s organ, an AFP report reads.
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Lesotho’s Prime Minister Pakalitha Bethuel Mosisili, advocated the lifting of the US blockade against Cuba, as well. He said a solution to the long-standing dispute between the US and Cuba should be found, said PL.
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The Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla is scheduled to address the UN’s General Assembly in New York on Monday afternoon.
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For 19 years the General Assembly, the UN’s main decision-making body, has witnessed the rejection of Washington’s blockade against Cuba on the part of an overwhelming majority of its member states.

Up to the present, this unilateral measure, which came into force in February 1962, has brought about direct economic damage to Cuba valued at more than 975 billion dollars.

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United States fines another bank for its connections with Cuba

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The powerful U.S. bank JP Morgan Chase has confirmed that it paid a fine of $88.3 million for violating restrictions imposed by the United States on commercial agreements with Cuba, Iran and Sudan.

A notification from the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), part of the Department of the Treasury, states that JP Morgan processed 1,711 transfers involving Cuban individuals and entities to a value of close to $176 million, PL reports.

According to OFAC, the Havana-related transactions took place from December 2005 to March 31, 2006. This is the second sanction in the context of Cuba announced by the Office this month. Other banking institutions have been subjected to the blockade’s extraterritorial measures.

The fine imposed on JP Morgan Chase is the fourth largest imposed by Washington since the George W. Bush administration, when controls related to the economic blockade of Cuba – in place for more than 50 years – were tightened.

Source

World Condemns US Blockade against Cuba at UN General Assembly

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Cuba: 187

Abstentions: 3

USA: 2 

For the 19th consecutive year, The U.N. General Assembly has voted overwhelmingly to condemn almost a half-century of U.S. sanctions against Cuba, demanding an end to what member states say is a cruel Cold War anachronism that only hurts ordinary people.

Cuba´s report on the UN 64/6 Resolution received the support of 187 countries, while three abstained and the US, along with its traditional ally Israel, voted against .

Thirty heads of state and government and foreign ministers from several countries reiterated their condemnation of the blockade a month ago in the General Assembly.

The US blockade has a huge negative impact on the Cuban people’s everyday lives and has caused Cuba’s economy losses for over 751 billion dollars.

The US government’s hackneyed argument that this is a “bilateral issue” is demolished by the blockade’s extraterritoriality as it affects companies and citizens from third countries, making of it an actual economic war.

Sources 1 2 3

Also See

NZ Cuban Embassy Press Release October 27th 2010

Blockade Resolution Ready

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For the nineteenth consecutive year, the General Assembly of the United Nations will vote on a Cuban resolution demanding the end of the almost 50-year-old US blockade against the islan9

Prensa Latina news agency reports that the UN General Assembly will vote on the document as part of the discussion on topic 41 of the agenda under the title “Necessity to End the Economic, Trade and Financial Blockade Imposed by the United States of America against Cuba.”

The text of the resolution reaffirms the principles of equal sovereignty among States, non interference in domestic affairs and freedom of trade and international navigation.

It also rejects the approval and implementation of laws such as the Helms-Burton Act, “whose extraterritorial effects damage the sovereignty of other states and the legitimate interests of entities or individuals.”

The document mentions that a similar resolution has been approved by the UN General Assembly on 18 previous occasions. It also refers to other declarations and accords adopted by several intergovernmental forums, international organizations and governments rejecting the implementation of this kind of unilateral measures.

The text urges all states to abstain from passing and implementing similar regulations and to comply with the principles included in the Charter of the United Nations and international law.

Finally, it asks the UN General-Secretary to prepare a report on the compliance with the resolution to present it during the 66th ordinary period of sessions of the UN General Assembly.

Last year, 187 countries voted to lift US blockade against Cuba while only three voted against (United States, Israel and Palau) and two abstained (Marshall Islands and Micronesia).

According to conservative estimates, the blockade has cost the island more than 751 billion dollars.

Source

Also see

Cuba is the Second Haiti

Amnesty criticises President Obama’s decision on Cuba

In a statement release September 8th Amnesty International has criticised the Obama administration for renewing the blockade of Cuba. The refusal to change course is, according to Amnesty a “long overdue step toward dismantling a policy that is both ineffective and detrimental.”

The statement notes that the blockades

"...impact on economic and social rights, concluded that sanctions, which the USA has imposed since 1962, are negatively affecting Cuban access to medicines and medical technologies and endangering the health of millions. United Nations agencies and programs operating in Cuba, such as UNICEF, UNAIDS and UNFPA, have reported that the US embargo has undermined the implementation of programs aimed at improving the living conditions of Cubans."

The full statement can be found on Amnesty’s webpage

Amnesty International’s 2009 report, The US embargo against Cuba: Its impact on economic and social rights, can be found here