On November 12, the United Nations General Assembly approved for the fifth consecutive year a resolution condemning the US embargo against Cuba. The resolution was approved with 138 votes in favour, three opposed and 24 abstentions.
Voting against the resolution were the US, Israel and Uzbekistan, the same three countries that voted against it last year. Unlike last year, when Britain, Germany and the Netherlands abstained, this year all 15 European Union nations voted in favour of the resolution.
The vote reflects growing opposition to the US embargo: in each successive year since 1992, more countries have voted for the Cuban-sponsored resolution and fewer have abstained, while the number of countries voting against the resolution has remained at between two and four. This year's increase in opposition is credited to widespread international anger against the Helms-Burton Act, the US law signed last March that extends sanctions to nations that trade with Cuba.
The EU position was summarised by Ambassador John Campbell of Ireland, which holds the rotating six-month presidency of the EU. Campbell criticised the Cuban government but said, "We cannot accept that the United States may unilaterally determine or restrict the European Union's economic and commercial relations with any other state. Measures of this type violate the general principles of international law and the sovereignty of independent states." This year's UN resolution specifically mentioned the Helms-Burton Act.
In related news, on October 28 the 15 EU nations voted to retaliate against the US for provisions included in the Helms-Burton legislation. The EU's executive commission drafted legislation allowing Europeans who lose lawsuits filed under Helms-Burton provisions to countersue in Europe to recoup damages that they are forced to pay by US courts. (One provision of Helms-Burton allows Cuban emigres who became US citizens to file lawsuits in US courts against foreign companies using property confiscated after the 1959 Cuban Revolution. This provision has so far been postponed from taking effect by US President Bill Clinton.)
The EU measure also requires European companies to notify the EU if a legal action is started against them. That provision is intended to discourage European companies from settling out of court in the US. The EU has also asked the World Trade Organisation to declare Helms-Burton in violation of WTO agreements.
[From Weekly News Update on the Americas, 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY, 10012, USA; email nicanet@blythe.org.]