Amid renewed US, Cuba ties, UN condemns embargo for 24th year

The resolution was adopted by 193-member General Assembly with 191 votes in favor; Israel joins the US in voting no

UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday condemned a US trade embargo on Cuba for the 24th year in a resolution that Washington voted against despite warming ties and a push by President Barack Obama to remove the economic restrictions.



The resolution was adopted by the 193-member General Assembly with 191 votes in favor. Israel joined the United States in voting no. While such resolutions are non-binding, they can carry political weight.



Ambassador Ronald Godard speaks on behalf of the United States government before a United Nations General Assembly vote addressing the embargo imposed by the US against Cuba at the United Nations headquarters in New York, October 27, 2015. PHOTO: REUTERS

In July, the United States and Cuba restored diplomatic relations after a 54-year break. Obama told the UN General Assembly last month that he was "confident our Congress will inevitably lift an embargo that should not be in place anymore."



The resolution welcomes the renewed ties and recognises "the expressed will" of Obama to end the embargo.