Obama administration to oppose UN resolution criticising Cuba embargo
Obama administration to oppose UN resolution criticising Cuba embargo
US official says draft does not reflect two countries’ new spirit of engagement but leaves open possibility that US could change position before 27 October vote
Associated Press in Washington
Wednesday 21 October 2015 16.59 EDT
The Obama administration has concluded that it must oppose a UN resolution criticising the US economic embargo against Cuba, an American official familiar with the process said on Wednesday, because the draft in its current form does not “fully reflect” the new spirit of engagement between the former cold war foes.
The official left open the possibility that the US would change its position, in the unlikely event Cuba amends the text. Officials had been hoping for a compromise that would allow the US to abstain, an unprecedented step that would effectively pit Barack Obama’s administration with the world body against the Republican-led Congress, which has refused to repeal the 54-year embargo.
The UN general assembly vote is on 27 October and Cuba will win overwhelmingly. Such resolutions are unenforceable, but the annual ritual serves to highlight Washington’s overwhelming isolation on the issue and frame the “blockade”, as the Cubans call it, as illegitimate. Last year’s tally was 188-2, with only Israel siding with the United States.
This year’s vote was seen as potentially different, however, coming after the US and Cuba restored diplomatic relations and both countries’ ongoing efforts to improve commercial ties.
More:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/21/obama-administration-un-cuba-embargo-resolution
[center] 
