UN General Assembly reaffirms demand to end US embargo on Cuba

​​​​​​​By Merve Aydogan

HAMILTON, Canada (AA) - The UN General Assembly overwhelmingly reaffirmed its demand Wednesday for the US to end its economic, commercial and financial embargo on Cuba.

The vote saw 187 nations voting in favor in the 193-member chamber, with two opposed -- the United States and Israel. Moldova abstained from voting.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Eduardo Rodriguez Parrilla before the vote said the votes in favor would "reaffirm the right of our people and of all peoples to defend their independence, sovereignty and self-determination without interference and foreign intervention."

"It simply calls for the cessation of abuse and injustice, Cuba has the right to live without a blockade," he said, adding that supporting the resolution "will also be an act of fairly recognizing the heroic resistance of the noble, proud and brotherly Cuban people."

The non-binding resolution, which is the 32nd time it was voted on at the UN General Assembly, is advisory in nature and reflects the stance of the international community.

US embargoes against the island began in 1960 and were expanded in scope in the subsequent years. Although the embargo was loosened in 2000 to allow for food and humanitarian goods to be sent to Cuba, it continues to prohibit most American business with Cuba.