国际英语新闻：UN General Assembly urges U.S. to end Cuba embargo

UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- The UN General Assembly on Tuesday adopted a draft resolution calling on the United States to immediately end its decades-long trade embargo against Cuba.

The draft resolution was adopted by the 192-member General Assembly with 187 votes in favor and 2 votes against, with 3 abstentions. It was the 19th consecutive year that the General Assembly has adopted the resolution by an overwhelming majority of votes to condemn the Cuba embargo.

The resolution, entitled "the necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the U.S. against Cuba," was introduced by Cuban Minister of Foreign Affairs Bruno Eduardo Rodriguez Parrilla.

The United States, who imposed the blockade against Cuba in the early 1960s when both countries severed diplomatic ties, voted against the draft resolution along with Israel.

The resolution, which is not legally binding, urged States to repeal or invalidate any such laws as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, the resolution also reiterated previous calls on countries "to refrain from promulgating and applying laws and measures" that do not conform to their obligations to reaffirm freedom of trade and navigation.