The Cuban President Raul Castro said on Saturday (26) that the US embargo is the main obstacle to the development of the Caribbean island. "The economic and financial blockade against Cuba persists for more than half a century and cause damage and hardship to the Cuban people," he said during a speech at the United Nations Summit (UN) in New York.
He praised the efforts of the US President, Barack Obama, to re-establish diplomatic relations between the two countries and the reopening of their embassies in Washington and Havana, but stressed that the embargo to be removed.
"The embargo affects not only the Cuban people but also other nations because of its extraterritorial reach, as well as citizens and US companies," he said. "This policy [the embargo] is rejected by 188 UN member states who want their end," he added.
Raul Castro said that despite the difficulties, the country has fulfilled the Millennium Development Goals - which will now be replaced by Agenda 2030. In addition, he said, the country has cooperated with other countries in various sectors.
The embargo is one of the last barriers to full restoration of relations between Cuba and the United States. The suspension of the measure depends on the approval of a law by the US Congress, which has proved resistant to the idea.
Last week, Pope Francisco visited Cuba and now, during the visit to the United States, defended the embargo review.
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