DATE=10/14/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-240197
TITLE=U-N / U-S / CUBA SANCTIONS (L - ONLY)
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

(VOICED BY LARRY FREUND)

INTRO:  THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY TODAY (WEDNESDAY) 
APPROVED A RESOLUTION CALLING FOR AN END TO THE U-S EMBARGO 
AGAINST CUBA -- THE SEVENTH SUCH RESOLUTION APPROVED SINCE 1992. 
V-O-A'S UNITED NATIONS CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON REPORTS.

TEXT:  THE RESOLUTION WAS APPROVED WITH 157 VOTES IN SUPPORT AND 
TWO VOTES -- THE UNITED STATES AND ISRAEL -- AGAINST.  THAT IS 14
MORE YES-VOTES THAN LAST YEAR AND NEARLY 100 VOTES MORE THAN IN 
THE FIRST SUCH DEBATE SEVEN YEARS AGO.

CUBA'S MINISTER OF FOREIGN RELATIONS, ROBERTO ROBAINA, SPEAKING 
THROUGH AN INTERPRETER, WAS THE FIRST OF NEARLY A DOZEN SPEAKERS 
WHO VOICED SUPPORT FOR THE RESOLUTION.

                 /// ROBAINA INTERPRETER ACT ///

         THE U-S HAS CERTAINLY DESIGNED A BLOCKADE THAT, AS A 
         VILE MEDIEVAL CUDGEL, HAS MANAGED, WITH A SLOW AND 
         PYRRHIC SUCCESS, TO BRING ABOUT INNUMERABLE SHORTAGES 
         FOR 11 MILLION HUMAN BEINGS, AND HAS GREATLY PREVENTED 
         OUR COUNTRY'S NORMAL DEVELOPMENT.  THE U-S, HOWEVER, HAS
         BEEN ABSOLUTELY UNSUCCESSFUL IN ITS OBJECTIVE OF 
         TOPPLING THE CUBAN REVOLUTION AND INCITING THE PEOPLE TO
         RISE UP AGAINST ITS LEADERS, THE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC 
         SYSTEM WE HAVE FREELY CHOSEN.

                         /// END ACT ///

REPRESENTATIVES OF MANY LONG TIME ADVERSARIES OF THE U-S 
GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING IRAQ, LIBYA AND SYRIA, SPOKE IN SUPPORT OF 
CUBA.  THEY SAID THE EMBARGO VIOLATES CUBA'S SOVEREIGNTY AND IS 
THUS AGAINST INTERNATIONAL LAW.

THE U-S EMBARGO AGAINST CUBA WAS BEGUN IN 1960 IN RESPONSE TO THE
NATIONALIZATION OF U-S INTERESTS IN CUBA.  THE EMBARGO WAS 
STRENGTHENED IN 1962 AMID THE CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS.  SUPPORT FOR 
CALLS AGAINST THE EMBARGO BEGAN TO GATHER FORCE IN THE GENERAL 
ASSEMBLY AFTER PASSAGE IN THE UNITED STATES OF THE HELMS-BURTON 
ACT IN 1996.  THAT ACT EXTENDS PUNITIVE TRADE MEASURES TO 
THIRD-PARTY ENTITIES CAUGHT TRADING WITH COUNTRIES FACING U-S 
TRADE EMBARGOES.

U-S AMBASSADOR PETER BURLEIGH SPOKE IN THE LATEST GENERAL 
ASSEMBLY DEBATE ON THE ISSUE.

                      /// BURLEIGH ACT ///

         YEAR AFTER YEAR, THE CUBAN GOVERNMENT HAS MANIPULATED 
         THE CONCERNS EXPRESSED IN THIS CHAMBER TO CLAIM SUPPORT 
         FOR ITS REPRESSIVE AND FAILED POLICIES.  THE RECORD, 
         HOWEVER, IS CLEAR: DOZENS OF DISSIDENTS AND HUMAN RIGHTS
         ADVOCATES HAVE BEEN DETAINED AND ARRESTED OVER THE PAST 
         YEAR.

                         /// END ACT ///

THE NON-BINDING RESOLUTION APPROVED IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY 
EXPRESSES CONCERN ABOUT THE HELMS-BURTON ACT OF 1996 AND ITS 
IMPACT ON THE SOVEREIGNTY OF OTHER STATES.  IT URGES STATES THAT 
APPLY SUCH LAWS TO REPEAL THEM.  (SIGNED)

NEB/UN/MPR/LSF

14-Oct-98 2:54 PM EDT (1854 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.