“The vote is a recognition of the courage and resilience of Cuban people.” Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel celebrated the UN General Assembly vote on Wednesday to condemn the US blockade, saying the 130 countries that backed Cuba’s resolution represent “recognition of the courage, heroism, and creative resistance” of the Cuban people. He also said the result was a defeat for the “arrogant and vulgar imperialist regime.” This year’s vote followed an aggressive pressure campaign by UN Ambassador Mike Waltz and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, with Cuba accusing Washington of threatening countries with tariffs and visa restrictions to change their votes. The day before the vote Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez confronted Waltz on the podium and called him a liar, after Waltz accused Cuban leadership of corruption and denied that the US imposes a blockade on the island. The non-binding resolution, adopted annually since 1992, passed with 130 in favor, 17 against, and 25 abstentions. Another 21 countries didn’t vote.

From BreakThrough News via This RSS Feed.