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

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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