El Salvador Calls For Lifting Sanctions
Against Cuba
San Salvador - Salvadorian Foreign Minister
Hugo Martinez said on Thursday that his
country will vote for the lifting of the
decades-long U.S. sanctions against Cuba at
the General Assembly of the United Nations.
"There is going to be a change. President
Mauricio Funes has decided that we are going
to join most of the countries which in
previous years have voted in favor of a
resolution condemning the embargo against
Cuba," Martinez said.
The UN General Assembly opened its 64th
session on Tuesday at the UN Headquarters in
New York, as world leaders are set to gather
here in the next few days for a string of
summits on pressing global challenges.
After reestablishing diplomatic ties with
Cuba on June 1, when Funes took office, El
Salvador has adopted a new foreign policy
toward Cuba, considering "the economic
embargo (against Cuba) inappropriate."
"We believe that it is necessary that El
Salvador joins the international voices.
Most of more than 170 countries are voting
for ending the embargo against Cuba, so this
will be an important change of our
participation in the UN," Martinez said.
Since the victory of the Cuban revolution in
1959, the United States has invariably
adopted a hostile policy toward Cuba.
Washington severed relations with Havana in
1961 and has imposed economic blockade and
restrictive measures against trade with Cuba
since 1962.
However, U.S. President Barack Obama, who
took office in January, has said his
administration wants to engage with Cuba and
ease some sanctions.
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