For the 23rd consecutive time the world massively rejected the  U.S. economic war against the people of Cuba. On October 28, 2014, the United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly condemned the U.S. economic blockade of that island nation by resoundingly voting in favour of the resolution, "Necessity of Ending the Economic, Commercial and Financial Embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba."  Mirroring the undiminished global outrage, the vote of the 193 UN member countries was 188 in support of Cuba, with only 2 voting in support of Washington: the United States and Israel. Three countries (Palau, Marshall Islands and Micronesia) abstained. Since 1992,  the international community has repudiated the ongoing economic aggression of the United States against the people of Cuba in these annual votes in the UN. This rejection of Washington’s diktat, graphically underscores the isolation of the empire in world public opinion.

The ongoing U.S. economic war is a flagrant violation of international law, constituting the principal obstacle to Cuba's social and economic development.  Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez pointed out that the economic blockade has caused more than $1 trillion in damage to Cuba. Nevertheless, despite the unrelenting efforts by the United States’ government to bring the Cuban people to their knees, Cuba continues to be ranked among the nations with the highest human development, a country that uses its very modest resources for the benefit of its citizens.

The resounding UN vote represents not only a victory for Cuba but also a victory for all those who struggle to defend the inalienable and inviolable right of all peoples to self-determination and independence.

In this struggle, Rodriguez declared, "Cuba will never relinquish our sovereignty."

In this struggle, the nations of the world, representing the immense majority of humanity, have declared in one voice that they stand with the heroic people of Cuba.

On behalf of the Canadian Network On Cuba
Isaac Saney
CNC Co-chair & national spokesperson