UNITED NATIONS, Oct 1 (Reuter) - Cuban Foreign Minister Roberto Robaina, saying United States embargoes had cost his country some $60 billion over three decades, called on U.N. members on Wednesday to stand against "the imperial power who wants to subdue the world.''
In a speech to the General Assembly, he said: "Almost 40 years of resistance and defense of our irreverent independence vocation in front of our brutal neighbor who covets and loathes us, provide us with the authority to speak.
"More than 35 years of fighting against the cruel and inhumane economic, commercial and financial blockade of the United States of America corroborate our arguments.''
Robaina, who opened his speech by quoting from a 1964 U.N. speech by the late revolutionary Che Guevara, said Cuba had suffered a "rough estimation of losses exceeding $60 billion, an economy distorted by the war conditions imposed on us, and immeasurable human, physical and psychological damage.''
Cuba offered only the example of having "stoically endured the harassment of the most powerful empire in history, of maintaining our principles, and of still believing, working and moving forward when many thought we had stopped and were dying,'' he said.
"The imperial power who wants to subdue the world is no match for all of us if we stand together. We are a great and powerful majority. There will be no place in history for those who bend their knees. Let us all rise, united.''
Visit Fidel Castro:Year One to learn more about the principles Robaina refers to in his speech.
20:21 10-01-97