Madam Deputy Speaker, today the United Nations General Assembly will once again consider the item: "Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba" during its 65th period of sessions of the General Assembly.
Last year, 187 member states voted in favour of this resolution. Despite this overwhelming democratic outcome, the United States continues to ignore the world body's decision.
We, in the ANC, fully support our government for consistently supporting this resolution before and since its adoption by the overwhelming majority of members of the United Nations. We believe that this clear expression of democracy must be respected by those who want us to believe them to be champions of democracy.
Cuba and the Cuban people are correct in identifying this embargo as the most important factor undermining their country's natural development. It inhibits even other partners of the United States itself and its own citizens from freely conducting social and economic relations with Cuba.
No respectable reason or justification exists for the continuation of this embargo against the wishes of the majority of governments of the world. No reason exists for our government representatives in the United Nations to change their principled support for Cuba on the matter during voting.
We appeal to the United States to respect the outcome of the result of the vote as it expects others to do in other situations. I thank you. [Time expired.] [Applause.]