UN Rapporteur affirms that Helms-Burton Law harms Cuban economy
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- Published: Tuesday, 14 May 2019 07:34
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Photo: RHCUnited Nations, May 14.- The activation of Titles III and IV of the Helms-Burton Act undermines the economic prospects of Cuba and causes a serious impact on the people of the island, said today Idriss Jazairy, special rapporteur of the Rights Council United Nations Human Rights on the adverse impact of unilateral coercive measures.
In exclusive statements to Prensa Latina, via e-mail, about the termination by the United States of exemptions from that law, Jazairy said that such a decision by Washington opens the possibility of litigation from the United States against companies doing business in Cuba, for example those of the European Union.
According to Jazairy, it can be expected that this measure will have a greater negative impact on trade and investment flows to and from Cuba and, therefore, will lead to a lasting undermining of the country's entire economic outlook, says Juventud Rebelde.
This is, at the same time, a very significant deviation by the United States of the modus vivendi applied until now between the European Union (EU) and the North American part, which is based on a bilateral agreement reached in London in 1998, he explained.
Through this agreement, the expert recalled, it was agreed to grant an exemption to EU companies, and the United States undertook to restrict future extraterritorial laws of this type.
The EU has already declared that it cannot "accept that measures imposed unilaterally hamper our economic and trade relations with Cuba," and it remains to be seen if they will effectively seek to protect their active companies on the island from US sanctions, he said.
In addition, the UN independent rapporteur delved into the damage caused by the blockade of the United States on the Cuban population and the general development of the island.
"The impacts on human rights, including the right to development, of this policy of comprehensive economic coercion continue to be documented, which generates a special concern regarding its effects on the right to health, as highlighted in the reports of the World Health Organization, "he said.
In addition, he added, that encirclement policy generates a serious denial of the human rights of innocent people.
Therefore, the rapporteur questions "How long will this continue? "And whether the international community will allow such damages to be caused to the Cuban people due to the sanctions of the United States. (RHC)
