大多國家希望美國解除對古巴經濟制裁
The United Nations General Assembly Tuesday voted almost unanimously for an end to the 50-year U.S. economic embargo against Cuba.
One hundred ninety-one members of the General Assembly called for Washington to end the measures put in place during the height of the Cold War. Only the U.S. and Israel voted against it.
This was the strongest support the world body has expressed for ending the embargo in the 24 consecutive years it has taken up the issue.
But Ron Goddard, the deputy U.S. ambassador to the U.N., said the vote will "not help move things forward."
"Although normalization will be a long and complex road, we've made considerable progress. We regret therefore that the government of Cuba has chosen to proceed with its annual resolution. The text falls short of reflecting the significant steps that have been taken and the spirit of engagement President Obama has championed. As a result, the United States cannot support it."
Last December, President Barack Obama ordered full restoration of diplomatic relations with the island nation. He also eased some travel restrictions, but only the U.S. Congress can lift the 56-year-old embargo.
Cuba's Foreign minister, Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, urged the United States to unilaterally lift the embargo after the vote was held.
Bruno Rodriguez, Cuban Foreign Minister, said after the voting: "The blockade against Cuba is a unilateral act of the U.S. and should be lifted unilaterally without asking for anything in return. It's only up to the U.S. to adopt the necessary measures to comply with the international law, as President Obama has said, to serve the national interests of the U.S., which will be benefited by the lifting of the blockade."
Ambassador Goddard said U.S. and Cuban officials have met in Havana to set a broad agenda for cooperation spanning law enforcement, drug trafficking, human rights and climate change.
Godard told the assembly that fully normalizing relations between the U.S. and Cuba will require years of persistence and dedication on both sides."聯合國大會星期二幾乎一致投票贊同結束美國對古巴半個多世紀的經濟制裁。
聯大191個成員國呼籲華盛頓取消在冷戰高峯時期開始對古巴實行的貿易制裁。只有美國和以色列投了反對票。
這是自從聯大連續24年討論這個問題以來的最大的支持力度。
但美國駐聯合國副代表戈達德說，這種投票“無助於推動局面。”
他說：“儘管正常化將是一個漫長和複雜的過程，但是我們已經取得了相當的進展。我們因此很遺憾古巴政府選擇謀求這個年復一年的決議。決議文本沒有反映已經取得的重大進展，也沒能反映奧巴馬總統所提倡的進行接觸的精神。因此，美國不贊同這一決議。”
去年12月，奧巴馬總統下令全面恢復與古巴的外交關係，還放寬了一些旅行限制，但只有美國國會才能解除美國對古巴實行了56年的貿易禁運。
聯大投票之後，古巴外長羅德里格斯敦促美國單方面解除貿易禁運。他說：“對古巴的封鎖禁運是美國的單方面行動，應當單方面解除，不需要爲此要求得到回報。只有美國才能採取必要的措施遵守國際法，從而有利於美國的國家利益，就像奧巴馬總統所說的那樣。解除制裁會讓美國獲益。”
美國駐聯合國代表戈達德說，美國和古巴官員已經在哈瓦那舉行了會晤，以制定一個更爲廣泛的合作議程。議程涉及執法、打擊販毒、人權和氣候變化等議題。
戈達德在聯大上表示，美國和古巴關係全面正常化需要雙方多年持續努力，堅持不懈。
