International
India opposes Cuba embargo
11/9/2006
- By IANS
United Nations, Nov. 9: Citing the plight of Cuba, India has reiterated its opposition to extra-territorial and unilateral economic embargo impinging on the sovereignty of another nation and urged the international community to create an environment that provides equal opportunities to all.
"India has consistently opposed any unilateral measures by countries, which impinge on the sovereignty of another country. These include any attempt to extend the application of a country's laws extra-territorially to other sovereign nations," Indian delegate A. Vijaya Raghavan said during a UN General-Assembly debate on Wednesday.
"We share the views expressed by the countries which have reiterated their opposition to the extra-territorial aspect of the economic embargo," he said in the debate on the necessity of ending US embargo against Cuba. The embargo has been implemented in accordance with the 1992 Cuban Democracy Act and the 1996 Helms Burton Act, through which the extra-territorial reach of the embargo encompasses foreign companies as well as foreign subsidiaries of US companies doing business with Cuba, Mr Raghavan noted.
The embargo and sanctions imposed by the United States against Cuba has been in place for over four decades and has been a subject of discussion in the General-Assembly for the fifteenth time.
The embargo has had an impact on the Cuban efforts towards the eradication of poverty, improving livelihoods and promoting socio-economic development. They also hinder the full enjoyment of human rights, such as the right to development, right to food, medical care and social services, which, despite these constraints, are of a high order.
In a normal situation, Cuba and the US would be natural economic partners.