Cuba Confident Of M'sia's Support To End US-Imposed 54-YR-Old Embargo

By R. Vikneswaran KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 18 (Bernama) -- Cuba is confident of Malaysia's support on a resolution to end a 54-year-old embargo imposed by the United States (US) against the Caribbean country, said Cuban Embassy's Charge d' Affairs Yanila Reyes Paret. While congratulating Malaysia's success on winning a non-permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Thursday, she said Havana-Kuala Lumpur enjoyed good diplomatic ties, and Malaysia had given overwhelming support to Cuban resolutions to end the embargo, at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) since 1992. "I believe the Government of Malaysia will support the Cuban resolution against the blockade, again at the (UNGA) 69th session this year. "Cuba cannot freely trade with any country, even with Malaysia...Cuba cannot get any financial transaction with any country due to the restriction imposed by the US," she said. Paret was speaking to Bernama in an exclusive interview at the Cuban Embassy here Friday, ahead of the voting which is scheduled on Oct 28 at the UN in New York. In last year's assembly, Malaysia, along with 187 other countries agreed with the resolution to end the embargo, while only two countries voted against the resolution, namely the US and Israel. The embargo, which began in October 1960 under the then-US President Dwight D. Eisenhower was broadened under President John F. Kennedy, where Cuba remained unable to trade freely with the US, use US dollar in international transaction and cannot open bank account in US currencies in third countries. Paret said, currently Malaysia and Cuba among others, were working on halal vaccine to cure cancer and in the tourism sector. She also pointed out that the embargo had even obstructed the acquisition of materials, supplies and technology related to special education needs in Cuba. The diplomat said Cuba was urging the US to lift the embargo at UNGA every year, as the embargo had also caused an economic loss of more than US$1 trillion to the country of some 11.2 million people. "The people of Cuba want the US Government to respect its social, economic and political system by ending the sanctions which is considered a 'financial war'," she said. -- BERNAMA