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