TEMPO.CO, New York – Indonesia has urged the United States to lift its embargo against Cuba. Even though U.N. General Assembly has reinforced the resolution to lift embargo 23 times, the U.S. has not removed its embargo.

“Our request is simple and clear. Embargo against Cuba must end,” said Desra Percaya, Indonesia’s permanent representative to the U.N,. during the U.N. General Assembly in New York on Wednesday. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Eduardo also attended the meeting.

“The embargo against Cuba clearly violates non-intervention principle in other country’s internal affairs and U.N. Charter provisions. That’s why, extraterritorial sanctions that disrupt the sovereignty of a country must be stopped,” said Desra on Thursday.

In addition to affecting Cuba’s economy and national development, U.S. embargo is a counterproductive policy and harms countries that have commercial relations with Cuba.

The UN General Assembly passed a resolution titled "Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba". The resolution was adopted by the U.N. through voting where 188 of 193 countries in the U.N., including Indonesia, voted for the resolution. The U.S. and Israel voted against the resolution while the rest abstained.

According to Cuban foreign minister’s report, the embargo has destroyed Cuba’s economy and caused economic losses of US$1.1 trillion and fines of US$11 billion on 38 foreign banks that conduct transaction with Cuba.

The majority of U.N. members saw that the embargo against Cuba was obsolete and a legacy of the Cold War that was no longer relevant with the principles of interaction between nations that are based on dialogues and respect.

NATALIA SANTI