Letter sent to the Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs regarding the United Nations Annual Resolution Against U.S. Economic Sanctions Against Cuba. The vote is scheduled to take place on October 27, 2015.

October 15, 2015

The Honourable Robert Nicholson
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada
125 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, ON, K1A 0G2

Dear Minister Nicholson,

Re: United Nations Annual Resolution Against U.S. Economic Sanctions Against Cuba

I am writing to you on behalf of the Canadian Network On Cuba (CNC), which represents more than 20 Canada-Cuba friendship organizations across the country. Earlier this year we witnessed the historic re-establishment of full diplomatic relations between Cuba and the United States, with Canada playing an important role in facilitating Cuba-U.S contacts.  Canada’s role was given greater poignancy as 2015 marked 75 years of uninterrupted diplomatic relations between Ottawa and Havana.

Nevertheless, while Canada, the Americas and the world welcomed Washington’s new policy and the re-opening of embassies, these developments do not equal the normalization of relations between the two countries. The U.S. economic embargo of Cuba still remains in force, with the objective of negating and extinguishing Cuba’s right to self-determination and independence.  It is the principal obstacle to Cuba’s social and economic development, having cost the island nation in excess of $1 trillion. In short, this economic blockade is an egregious violation of the human rights of the people of Cuba.

On Tuesday, October 27, 2015, the General Assembly of the United Nations will for the twenty-fourth successive year vote on the annual resolution (Necessity of Ending the Economic, Commercial and Financial Embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba) condemning the economic sanctions imposed on the Republic of Cuba by the government of the United States.  Washington’s policy – with its extra-territorial character – is a flagrant violation of the UN Charter and customary international law.

For twenty-three consecutive years, the nations of the world have massively repudiated the U.S. economic war against Cuba.  In 2014, for example, by a vote 188 to 2, the international community overwhelmingly stood with Cuba. Canada was counted in those ranks resoundingly rejecting Washington’s coercive, unilateral and extra-territorial policy.

We, therefore, call on and urge the Government of Canada to once again take its place among the overwhelming majority of the world’s countries and vote in favour of the resolution put forward by the Republic of Cuba. We also call upon and urge the Government of Canada to impress on U.S. officials – both the administration of President Obama and the U.S. Congress – the necessity to abide by world opinion and dismantle the U.S. economic blockade of Cuba.

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Respectfully,

Isaac Saney,
Co-Chair and National Spokesperson
Canadian Network on Cuba
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Cell: 902-449-4967