GCSM condemns U.S. Vote against Cuba’s Embargo

President of the Guyana Cuba Solidarity Movement (GCSM) Haleem Khan.

Georgetown: The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution calling for an end to the U.S. economic embargo on Cuba, with the United States on Wednesday voting against it after abstaining last year for the first time in 25 years, President of the Guyana-Cuba Solidarity Movement (GCSM) Haleem Khan said.

Khan said Israel joined the United States in opposing the embargo resolution, which was overwhelmingly approved in the 193-member General Assembly by a vote of 191-2. That was the same vote as in 2015.

Adding that the non-binding resolution urges the United States to repeal the embargo on Cuba as soon as possible, Khan said the U.N. vote can carry political weight, but only the U.S. Congress can lift the full embargo, put in place more than 50 years ago.

Tensions have flared recently between Washington and Havana, which forged a closer relationship under former U.S. President Barack Obama and reopened embassies in both countries in 2015. The diplomatic status between both countries is not changing.

Last Friday, Cuba presented its most detailed defense to date against U.S. accusations that American diplomats in Havana were subjected to mysterious sonic attacks that left them with a variety of ailments including headaches, hearing problems and concussions.

The U.S. has not accused Cuba of carrying out the attacks, but says that Cuba has not met its obligation to protect diplomats on its territory. Cuba alleged a lack of evidence for the U.S. accusations, arguing that the U.S. had not given Cuba or the public access to the testimony or medical records of U.S. officials who reported attacks, despite three visits to Cuba by U.S. investigators.

Since taking office, Trump has taken steps to partially roll back the rapprochement with Cuba, but has preserved many other changes put in place by Obama.

The Trump administration had suspended visas for Cubans in Havana and cutbacks to Cuban consulate and embassy staff in Washington, calling the measures "unjustified."

By forcing Cuba to dismantle its commercial office in Washington, Khan said the administration was "pursuing the evil political purpose of depriving the U.S. business sector … (of) exploring business interests" in Cuba.

General Assembly resolutions are nonbinding and unenforceable.