NEXT 8 NOVEMBER, THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY WILL CONSIDER THE ISSUE OF THE BLOCKADE BY THE US GOVERNMENT AGAINST CUBA

THERE WILL BE A VOTE ON THE DRAFT RESOLUTION SUBMITTED BY OUR COUNTRY: “NECESSITY OF ENDING THE ECONOMIC, COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL EMBARGO IMPOSED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AGAINST CUBA”

Historic Voting Pattern

THE BLOCKADE: The longest-running and most ruthless ever known to mankind.The longest-running and most ruthless ever known to mankind. An economic war qualifying as an act of genocide.An economic war qualifying as an act of genocide. Distinct extraterritorial nature as defined by the enforcement of the Torricelli and Helms-Burton Acts.Distinct extraterritorial nature as defined by the enforcement of the Torricelli and Helms-Burton Acts. 7 in every 10 Cubans have been born and have lived under the blockade.7 in every 10 Cubans have been born and have lived under the blockade. The economic damage sustained by the Cuban people is in the order of over US$ billion. In 2005 alone, it cost us more than US$ 4 billion.The economic damage sustained by the Cuban people is in the order of over US$ billion. In 2005 alone, it cost us more than US$ 4 billion.

IN 2005, THE BLOCKADE WAS FURTHER TIGHTENED AND ITS EXTRATERRITORIAL EFFECT HEIGTHENED

1. IN 2005, CUBA COULD NOT EXPORT TO THE US EITHER.

2. NOR WAS CUBA ABLE TO IMPORT FROM THE US: Only agricultural products and with a great deal of constraints. In 2005, restrictions remained in place, as well as the complicated mechanisms for the sale of these products to Cuba.

3. THE EXTRATERRITORIAL CONSTRAINTS ON TRADE REMAINED IN PLACE A third-country company cannot sell to Cuba any product or piece of equipment if it contains over 10% of US-made components. A third-country company cannot sell to the US any product or piece of equipment if it contains Cuban raw materials.

4. CUBA CONTINUED TO ENDURE THE ABSENCE OF US TOURISM. THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN PERSECUTION AGAINST THOSE VISITING CUBA In 2005 alone, the Office for Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) penalized 487 US citizens or residents with a total of nearly US$ 530,000 for breaching the travel ban to Cuba. According to studies released in the US, Cuba could receive 5 million American tourists per annum and yearly revenues in the order of US$ 7 billion.

5. CUBA WAS ONCE AGAIN PREVENTED FROM USING THE US DOLLAR IN ITS INTERNATIONAL TRANSACTIONS: There was an unprecedented persecution against any dollar payment from and to Cuba.

6. CUBA HAD NO ACCESS TO THE INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL AGENCIES: In 2005 alone, the Inter-American Development Bank (BID) and the World Bank loaned nearly US$ 12 billion for development programs in Latin American and the Caribbean. No single dollar was for Cuba.

7. THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE TORRICELLI ACT, IN FORCE SINCE 1992, WAS FURTHER TIGHTENED

8. ESCALATION IN THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE HELMS-BURTON ACT, in force since 1996 Title III: The July 2006 update of the Bush Plan has envisaged its enforcement, for the first time ever, against companies from those countries that support the continuity of the Cuban Revolution. Title IV: The July 2006 update of the Bush Plan envisages a more rigorous enforcement of the visa denial for entry into the US for the businesspeople investing in Cuba’s oil, tourism, nickel, rum and tobacco sectors.

9. The theft of Cuban brand names: Through a fraudulent law, Bacardí Co. was allowed to sell a rum in the US bearing the Havana Club trademark. They are now attempting to steal the Cohíba brand.

THE BUSH PLAN FOR CUBA’S ANNEXATION On 6 May 2004, President Bush announced its plan for Cuba’s annexation.

THE BUSH PLAN ENTAILS: 1.The tightening of the blockade. 2. Subversion and propaganda campaigns against Cuba. 3.Cuba’s recolonization.

BLOCKADE-RELATED MEASURES FROM THE BUSH PLAN THAT HAVE BEEN ENFORCED (2004 – 2006)  More restrictions on family visits by Cuban-Americans to Cuba (travel decreased by 54%: from over 115,000 in 2003, to just under 62,000 in 2005).

BLOCKADE-RELATED MEASURES FROM THE BUSH PLAN THAT HAVE BEEN ENFORCED (2004 – 2006)  New restrictions on travels by Americans to Cuba (reduced by 45%: from over 85,000 in 2003, to a mere 39,000 in 2005).

BLOCKADE-RELATED MEASURES FROM THE BUSH PLAN THAT HAVE BEEN ENFORCED (2004 – 2006)  More restrictions on remittances and packages sent.

 Sanctions imposed on US companies and citizens breaching the blockade regulations. In 2004, over 800 people were fined for traveling to Cuba illegally and 85 companies were penalized. BLOCKADE-RELATED MEASURES FROM THE BUSH PLAN THAT HAVE BEEN ENFORCED (2004 – 2006)

 Increase in persecution against Cuba’s commercial and financial transactions overseas. A Cuban Assets Identification Group was set up to investigate the ways in which hard currency comes in and out of Cuba. BLOCKADE-RELATED MEASURES FROM THE BUSH PLAN THAT HAVE BEEN ENFORCED (2004 – 2006)

 15 companies with a Cuban share based in third countries have endured the enforcement of the blockade. MEDIDAS APLICADAS DEL PLAN BUSH EN MATERIA DE BLOQUEO (2004 – 2006)

On 10 July 2006, President Bush added new measures to his anti-Cuban Plan, which further intensify the current blockade policy.

MORE BLOCKADE New mechanisms to fine-tune the enforcement of the blockade and the imposition of sanctions against offenders. It includes prosecution. Prohibition on the direct transfer of remittances through third-country institutions. Prohibition on the sale of medical equipment for large-scale foreigner-oriented healthcare programs. That would curtail the Revolution’s programs in Cuba and abroad (Operation Miracle, Henry Reeve Brigade, Comprehensive Healthcare Program in nearly 70 c0untries

MORE BLOCKADE Establishment of the “Cuban Nickel Inter-Agency Task Force.” Aimed at hampering the sale of Cuban nickel in the world. Tightening of the regulations to send humanitarian items to Cuba. It prohibits the donations from US religious organizations, such as the Church Council, to its Cuban counterparts. Greater persecution against Cuban trading operations through third countries and against Cuba’s financial transactions. It intends to have other countries and international entities join this endeavor.

The 118 member countries of the Non-Aligned Movement, recently gathered in Havana for the XIV Summit of the grouping, stated: “The Heads of State or Government once again called upon the Government of the United States of America to put an end to the economic, commercial and financial blockade against Cuba, which, in addition to being unilateral and contrary to the UN Charter and International Law, as well as to the principle of good neighborliness, causes major material losses and economic damage to the people of Cuba. They once again requested the strict compliance with the UN General Assembly resolutions. They expressed their profound concern over the ever-increasing extraterritorial nature of the embargo against Cuba and rejected the reinforcement of the measures adopted by the US Government to further tighten the embargo, as well as all the other measures implemented by the US Government against the people of Cuba. They also urged the US Government to return to Cuban sovereignty the territory currently occupied by the Guantánamo Naval Base and to put an end to the aggressive radio and TV broadcasts against Cuba. They reiterated that those measures constitute a violation of Cuba’s sovereignty and a serious violation of the human rights of its people.”