Cuba celebrates historic UN vote against US-led trade embargo

"I understand the United States' vote at the UN today as a vote against Obama," Menendez told Xinhua, adding that "it remains to be seen what the Republican party, those who oppose US foreign policy toward Cuba, aim to gain by making him swallow the bitter pill of voting in favor of a (sanctions scheme) he recently described as a failure."

"I believe the ridiculous situation that the US foreign policy has been subjected to is directed above all through this vote by the forces that in reality govern behind the throne in the United States, in order to ridicule President Obama," he added.

Given Obama's decision to reverse the longstanding US policy toward Cuba, "one would at the very least expect a different vote on the part of the Obama administration (such as an abstention), not the same ridiculous US foreign policy, challenging the rest of the world, solely followed and supported by Israel," Menendez said.

On the other hand, Menendez said the vote "strengthens the prestige of Cuba's foreign policy," which by contrast shows it is "solid, transparent and strong."

Cuban Foreign Affairs Minister Bruno Rodriguez told the UN General Assembly before the vote, "10 months after the announcements made on Dec. 17, no tangible, substantial modification has been introduced in the implementation of the blockade."

Rodriguez went on to list recent economic and financial damages caused by the embargo, including fines worth billions of US dollars banks that allow transactions with Cuba, which hamper the island's economic growth and development.

"We will continue to present this draft resolution for as long as the blockade persists," Rodriguez said.

Castro and Obama surprised the world on Dec. 17, 2014, by jointly announcing the decision to restore diplomatic ties severed by Washington in 1961.