10-23-06, 9:06 am
Declaration of the International Relations Committee of the Cuban National Assembly
Never before in the history of humanity has any nation been submitted to such a cruel and hostile policy as that of successive U.S. governments against the Cuban people. From the first day of the revolutionary triumph in 1959, those governments have not hesitated in applying measures with a clearly defined objective: to cause hunger and desperation.
To date that policy of economic, commercial and financial blockade of Cuba – from all possible angles, including pressure on third countries, has not only been constant but has been increased and reinforced despite the virtually unanimous opposition of the entire world. Today, just like the last close to 50 years, the imperial government is still lavishing fruitless efforts on causing suffering for all the people and achieving the destruction of the Cuban Revolution.
The Cuban people and government have constantly denounced before the world the unjust and cruel nature of this policy, whose effects are not only economic but also social and psychological and have forced us to make a superhuman effort throughout all these years.
The National Assembly of People's Power of the Republic of Cuba has stated that the economic blockade imposed by the U.S. government on Cuba constitutes an international crime of genocide, as understood in the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide approved by the General Assembly of the United Nations on December 9, 1948. The blockade has precisely been an “act perpetrated with the intention of totally or partially destroying a national, ethnic or religious group,” as defined in the Convention.
The blockade has not only deprived Cuba of essential supplies coming from abroad, but also of markets for its products, of credits indispensable for normal commerce; it has impeded its access to food and medicines, medical equipment, sanitary means to combat blights and diseases. In general terms it has obstructed economic development in all contexts and has generated damage that, according to conservative estimates, totals more than $86 billion.
And it is precisely this act of genocide against the Cuban people, cynically described by the United States with the sweetened and apparently innocuous term of “embargo,” which has steadily been strengthened and extended over 47 years.
On November 8, the General Assembly of the United Nations is preparing itself for the 15th occasion to pass a resolution calling for the immediate end to the U.S. economic, commercial and financial blockade of Cuba, which last year received the support of 182 countries.
The International Relations Commission of the National Assembly of People's Power of the Republic of Cuba, as part of the Cuban people, joins what already constitutes a world demand for a halt to the brutal policy of blockade and calls on parliamentarians and Parliaments of the world and the international community to take concrete and effective action to that end, thus supporting our fight to defend the most elemental principles of justice, the right to life, peace and freedom of all the peoples.
--International Relations Commission of the National Assembly of People's Power of the Republic of Cuba.
