Cuba to call again for end to US embargo

Cuba plans to submit a draft resolution to the UN General Assembly next month asking for international support to end the economic blockade imposed by the US that has been implemented for half a century, the Cuban ambassador to China said on Thursday.

The country wants to call again for the lifting of the economic, commercial and financial blockade at the 67th UN General Assembly on Nov 13, Alberto Jesús Blanco Silva told reporters.

"The blockade (imposed by the US) is still a major factor that hinders the economic development of Cuba," he said.

As of December, the direct economic damage to the Cuban people by the blockade had amounted to more than $108 billion, Blanco said.

The embargo against Cuba is still in place even though it has received overwhelming condemnation from the international community. Last year, 186 out of 192 member states voted in favor of the resolution to end the blockade at the UN General Assembly.

Although there have been some signs of changes since US President Barack Obama took office, the Cuban ambassador does not think the US will lift the blockade.

In June, the US government imposed a $619 million fine on Dutch bank ING for making transactions with Cuba in dollars, the most expensive punishment that has been imposed on a foreign bank for doing business with Cuba.

"Cuban leaders had expressed our willingness to have dialogues with the US on many different occasions on the basis of equality and the respect of each other’s sovereignty," he added.