By Antonio Rondón, Special Correspondent
The report prepared by a Special Rapporteur of the Human Rights Council (HRC) constitutes concrete evidence, gathered directly on the ground, of the genocidal effect of the blockade imposed by the United States against Cuba.
This time, it is a specialized UN mechanism that has produced this report, which collected data directly on the ground, stated Cuba’s Permanent Representative to the HRC, Rodolfo Benítez, at a parallel interactive meeting on the blockade against the island.
During the event, which was attended by the new Special Rapporteur, Zaina Jallad, the Cuban ambassador emphasized that she had the opportunity to travel to the Caribbean nation and meet with a wide range of sectors, referring to the previous rapporteur, Alena Douhan.
And I’m not just talking about the government, but everyone, so they can personally verify the reality for themselves, he added.
Based on very solid evidence gathered on the ground, the Human Rights Council (HRC) has, for the first time, been granted access to observe the situation and issue a recommendation group on the situation in Cuba, he explained to a room packed with attendees at the discussion on the blockade of the island.
Benítez stressed that this issue is highly relevant because, incredibly, the official U.S. narrative is that Cuba is lying, that there is no blockade, that there is no oil embargo, and that the Cuban government is entirely to blame.
But, he emphasized, this report, with solid evidence, demonstrates that the U.S. narrative is false.
Now we have an independent and specialized mechanism that went to Cuba to see the situation for itself, gather evidence, and is returning to the HRC with recommendations, the diplomat underlined.
Among the recommendations is the lifting of all unilateral coercive measures and the elimination of all restrictions placed on Cuba’s access to goods, including food, medicine, and medical equipment.
Furthermore, it calls for the repeal of Cuba’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism.
Likewise, it calls for the elimination of the national emergency related to Cuba declared by the United States, which considers it an alleged exceptional threat to its national security, he noted.
The application of an oil embargo is justified on the basis of this falsehood, the Cuban ambassador stated.
Speaking at the interactive meeting, Jallad emphasized the human cost of the unilateral coercive measures against Cuba and how the United States limits that country’s right to self-determination.
[ SOURCE: PRENSA LATINA ]
