GA / CUBA SANCTIONS

With 191 member states voting in favour and two votes against, the United Nations General Assembly (GA) overwhelmingly adopted a resolution calling on the United States of America (US) to lift its embargo on Cuba. UNIFEED

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:56
• Production Date: 1 November 2017
• Asset Language: English; Spanish
• Personal Subject: BRUNO RODRÍGUEZ PARRILLA; NIKKI R. HALEY
• Corporate Name: GENERAL ASSEMBLY
• Subject Topical: EMBARGO; INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
• Geographic Subject: CUBA; UNITED STATES
• MAMS Id: 2024647
• Parent Id: 2024647
• Alternate Title: unifeed171101d

Description

STORY: GA / CUBA SANCTIONS
TRT: 02.57
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / SPANISH / NATS

DATELINE: 01 NOVEMBER 2017, NEW YORK CITY / RECENT

Shotlist

RECENT, NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, exterior United Nations headquarters

01 NOVEMBER 2017, NEW YORK CITY

2. Wide shot, General Assembly
3. Wide shot, Ambassador Nikki Haley of the United States at the General Assembly podium
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Nikki Haley, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, United States:
“To those who are confused as to where the United States stands, let me be clear: as is their right under our constitution, the American people have spoken. They have chosen a new president, and he has chosen a new ambassador to the United Nations. As long as the Cuban people continue to be deprived of their human rights and fundamental freedoms – as long as the proceeds from trade with Cuba go to prop up the dictatorial regime responsible for denying those rights – the United States does not fear isolation in this chamber or anywhere else. Our principles are not up for a vote.”
5. Wide shot, Foreign Minister of Cuba Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla at the podium
6. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cuba:
“At least she had acknowledged the United States’ absolute isolation in these chambers and in this world. They are alone on the issue of the blockade against Cuba.”
7. Wide shot, US delegation
8. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cuba:
“During this period, there has been substantial progress in diplomatic relations, dialogue, and cooperation in areas of mutual interest and benefit. But the foundations of the blockade, in these past two years, remained in place, even though executive decisions were adopted that modified its application, in a very limited manner but in a positive direction.”
9. Wide shot, US delegation
10. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cuba:
“President Trump does not have the most minimal authority to question Cuba. He Presides over a government of millionaires, destined to apply vicious measures against the lowest income families and the poor in this country, minorities, and immigrants. He follows a programme that encourages hate and division. He touts a dangerous exceptionalism and supremacy disguised as patriotism and which will provoke more violence.”
11. Pan right, audience applause and cheers
12. Various shots, voting boards

Storyline

With 191 member states voting in favour and two votes against, the United Nations General Assembly (GA) today (01 Nov) overwhelmingly adopted a resolution calling on the United States of America (US) to lift its embargo on Cuba.

After abstaining in 2016, the United States voted against the resolution, as had been the case in the previous 24 years.

Addressing the GA, US Ambassador Nikki Haley said “to those who are confused as to where the United States stands, let me be clear: as is their right under our constitution, the American people have spoken. They have chosen a new president, and he has chosen a new ambassador to the United Nations. As long as the Cuban people continue to be deprived of their human rights and fundamental freedoms – as long as the proceeds from trade with Cuba go to prop up the dictatorial regime responsible for denying those rights – the United States does not fear isolation in this chamber or anywhere else. Our principles are not up for a vote.”

Cuba’s Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, said “at least she had acknowledged the United States’ absolute isolation in these chambers and in this world. They are alone on the issue of the blockade against Cuba.”

Rodríguez Parrilla said that during the two-year period of former US President Barack Obama’s easing of the blockade, there had been “substantial progress in diplomatic relations, dialogue, and cooperation in areas of mutual interest and benefit.”

He noted that while “the foundations of the blockade” remained in place, “executive decisions were adopted that modified its application, in a very limited manner but in a positive direction.”

The Foreign Minister said “President Trump does not have the most minimal authority to question Cuba. He presides over a government of millionaires, destined to apply vicious measures against the lowest income families and the poor in this country, minorities, and immigrants. He follows a programme that encourages hate and division. He touts a dangerous exceptionalism and supremacy disguised as patriotism and which will provoke more violence.”

The US embargo against Cuba was first imposed on 19 October 1960. The GA has, since 1992, passed a resolution every year condemning the embargo.