UN votes 23rd time for US to lift embargo on Cuba

For the 23rd straight year, the United Nations voted on Tuesday in favor of the US lifting its embargo on Cuba, with Iran saying the ban was undeserved given Havana's help in fighting Ebola.

China voted in favor of the resolution.

"Like most other countries, China hopes that the United States, in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the UN and the relevant General Assembly resolutions, will put an end as soon as possible to its blockade against Cuba," said Wang Min, China's deputy permanent representative to the UN.

The assembly adopted the non-binding resolution dealing with the five-decade-long embargo with 188 in favor and three abstentions. The United States and Israel voted no.

Wang said international community should respect the right of all countries independently to choose their path of development, and should oppose the unilateral imposition on countries of military, political, economic or other sanctions.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez told the assembly that "the current serious problems facing humanity make it imperative to change our way of dealing with each other".

The economic damage inflicted on Cuba totals more than 1 trillion dollars, Rodriguez argued, warning that the human cost is on the rise.

About 77 percent of Cubans were born during the time of the embargo, which causes hardship to families, he said.

"No honest person, whether in the US or the world, could agree with the devastating consequences caused by the blockade," he said.

Cuba has sent some 250 doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers to West Africa to fight the Ebola epidemic, winning praise from the US and other countries for its help.

Valued player

Iranian Ambassador Hossein Dehghani called the embargo "undeserved" and said Cuba had shown it was a valued international player.

"Cuba's response to Ebola was and continues to be far more robust than many countries far wealthier than it, and is a further proof of the constructive role that Cuba plays in international affairs," he said.

The US imposed the blockade against Cuba in 1962 when the two countries severed diplomatic ties.

Xinhua - AFP