Venezuela, Nicaragua, Cuba condemn US blockades

By Laura Gamba

BOGOTA, Colombia (AA) - Venezuela, Nicaragua and Cuba on Wednesday denounced the “arbitrary” blockades, sanctions and "illegal" measures imposed on them by the US.

Representatives of the three countries made the remarks at the 39th session of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

They also denounced the tightening of sanctions in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, which hindered efforts to "save lives.”

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Carlos Farias condemned what he called the "terrible consequences generated by unilateral coercive measures against our countries."

He criticized the "disastrous unilateral coercive measures" against his country during the pandemic, which prevented the purchase of necessary medical supplies.

Nicaragua's Foreign Minister Denis Moncada said in his speech that his country "has historically resisted imperial aggressions which are manifested in the so-called sanctions that are illegal, arbitrary, unilateral and that, as happens with other brother countries, have the objective of stifling us economically."

Cuban Minister of Foreign Trade Rodrigo Malmierca Diaz also denounced the "unilateral coercive measures of some states that violate the sovereignty of other countries."

"We specifically demand the cessation of the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the government of the United States against our country for more than 60 years, in flagrant violation of international law and the United Nations Charter," Malmierca said at the event, which was attended by ministers from the region.

Malmierca also condemned the "arbitrary inclusion” of Cuba on the list of countries sponsoring terrorism.

The Cuban embargo was originally enacted in 1960, but sanctions were strengthened in 1962 and later tightened by US President Donald Trump. President Joe Biden’s administration has yet to ease sanctions against the island.

Washington first imposed sanctions on Venezuelan individuals 15 years ago, although members of President Biden’s administration have traveled to Caracas since March to negotiate with President Nicolas Maduro's government over the possibility of lifting some of them.

The US imposed sanctions on Nicaraguan individuals in 2018 in response to the government’s crackdown on protesters, many of whom remain imprisoned for speaking out against President Daniel Ortega's government.