| The US government is one of the three | | | | embargo is in place, according to the |
| countries in the world that have initiated | | | | government of Fidel Castro. Thus, under the |
| and maintained the Cuba blockage. | | | | current circumstances, given the absence of |
| Specifically, only US, Israel and Uzbekistan | | | | normal commercial relations or transportation |
| are the rejecting the voice of the United | | | | mechanisms between the two countries, "it is |
| Nations General Assembly to seize this type | | | | not practical or viable to speak of such |
| of trade treatment. More cases appear every | | | | transactions," the Cuban Minister of Public |
| year in the news regarding the US embargo | | | | Health, Carlos Dotres, had said in 2000. This |
| consequences on the lives of millions of | | | | fact is further supported by the fact that |
| Cubans. Food, medicine and other important | | | | there is currently great difficulty in |
| supplies are withheld from the citizens of | | | | purchasing products since there are no |
| this island due to its political history and | | | | commercial flights between the two countries |
| recent communist upheaval that led Fidel | | | | and ships that dock in Cuba are prohibited |
| Castro in power. But although the General | | | | from visiting the US ports for the following |
| Assembly of the United Nations approved a | | | | six months. |
| resolution, condemning the economic blockade | | | | |
| that the US has applied to Cuba for more than | | | | Meanwhile, the regulations accompanying the |
| 35 years, the situation remains almost | | | | decision to streamline procedures for |
| unchanged. | | | | licensing purchases of supplies and health |
| | | | care equipment, rather than making trading |
| Some critics consider the Cuban resolution | | | | more flexible, have in fact created more |
| not only a logical decision but actually one | | | | obstacles, according to local experts. The |
| of great importance for the Cuban citizens' | | | | seller, for example, must oversee the product |
| well-being. Health personnel reported an | | | | until it reaches its final destination, which |
| increase in some infectious diseases, an | | | | according to U.S. policy may not be linked to |
| increase in iron-deficiency anemia among | | | | the Cuban government or be used in |
| pregnant women and young children, and a rise | | | | biotechnological production under any |
| in the incidence of low-birth-weight babies. | | | | circumstances. The U.S. companies that Cuba |
| The Ministry of Public Health attributes | | | | has contacted, often back away from |
| these changes, to problems in importation of | | | | completing the sale when they realize that |
| food supplies; and that the neuropathy | | | | they must account for the destination of |
| epidemic, which appeared in late 1991 in | | | | their exports and who they will benefit. |
| Cuba, is probably partly the result of | | | | |
| nutritional deficiencies. | | | | After carefully studying and analyzing this |
| | | | county's case, it is only logical to conclude |
| But in order for the Cuban situation to | | | | that the United States embargo should not |
| improve, a company has to be able to invest | | | | continue to force the Cuban citizens to |
| in such a challenging environment without | | | | search for another country and especially US |
| being excluded from tremendously important | | | | as their new permanent residence. The US will |
| markets like that of the US. On the other | | | | not act wisely by tightening further the |
| hand, the possibility of Cuba making any | | | | economic grip on Cuba as the opposite, |
| product or service purchases, especially | | | | according to business experts, can result in |
| medical ones from the United States, will | | | | numerous advantages for the US. |
| remain a distant "dream" as long as the | | | | |