HAVANA, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- More than 100 representatives of different institutions of the Cuban civil society on Friday demanded U.S. president Donald Trump put an end to the almost six-decade-old economic embargo against the island and continue the process of normalizing ties.
In their annual meeting against this U.S. policy, different organizations said the blockade is the main obstacle for Cuba's economic and social development which has cost the island over 133 billion U.S. dollars since it was imposed in 1961.
"The main goal of this obsolete policy continues to be the same as when it started. It seeks to destroy the Cuban revolution and interfere in our country's internal matters," Elsa Gutierrez, international relations chief of the Cuban Women's Federation, said at the forum.
Gutierrez said the blockade is a "flagrant" violation of human rights against the Cuban people and also seeks to stifle the island's economic relations with other nations in the world.
Meanwhile, Pedro Luis Veliz, president of the Cuban Council of Scientific Institutions, said the setback in bilateral relations due to alleged "sonic attacks" on U.S. diplomats in the island is an "excuse" by the White House to once again start a "confrontation" with Havana.
"We denounce false pretexts such as the alleged acoustic attacks on U.S. diplomatic personnel to justify Trump's aggression against the dignity of Cuba whose history demonstrates its unrestricted respect for international law, especially the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations," he added.
Carlos Fernandez de Cossio, director of U.S. affairs in the island's foreign ministry said on behalf of the government, this year's civil society forum takes place in a context marked by a "setback" in ties with Washington.
He indicated that even after relations with the Untied States were restored in 2015, the embargo remained intact causing great harm to Cuba's economy and commercial relations with other nations.
"The blockade is a failed policy as it was recognized by former U.S. president Barack Obama but it continues to affect the lives of millions in Cuba," said the official.
On Oct. 31, Havana will present for the 27th time before the UN General Assembly a non-binding resolution condemning the unilateral policy. Year after year Cuba receives the overwhelming support of the international community.
In 2017, only the United States and Israel opposed the Cuban initiative, while 191 countries condemned Washington's policy towards the Caribbean nation.
However, the Untied States is not obliged to comply with the UN mandate and claims the blockade is a bilateral issue with Cuba and must be resolved between the two nations.
In its annual report to the United Nations, Havana indicated that economic losses due to the U.S. blockade totaled over 4.3 billion U.S. dollars between April 2017 and March this year, a policy that has been reinforced during Donald Trump's administration.
