Interview | Cuba secures new victory at the UNGA - video Dailymotion

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On the context of the 33rd consecutive victory of Cuba at the United Nations General Assembly on the topic of lifting the U.S. genocidal blockade, we interview Hakim Jihad, Member of the Jacksonville Chapter of the U.S. Hands off Cuba Committee, to provide his opinion on the matter. teleSUR  These and many more stories now!

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00:00Let's go back to the main highlight of today.

00:02Most of the United Nations member states once again voted in favor of lifting the U.S. blockade against Cuba.

00:09And in this context, we invite Hakim Jihad, member of the Jacksonville chapter of the U.S. hands-off Cuba comedy.

00:16Hello, Hakim. Thank you for joining us today.

00:20Hello, it's a pleasure to be here.

00:22In the midst of an intense campaign of political and diplomatic pressure from the United States,

00:28today there has been a resounding victory for Cuba and in the United Nations General Assembly.

00:34How would you interpret this victory in the face of the destabilizing actions performed by the United States?

00:42Well, I think it's not only a victory for Cuba, but a victory for the entire world.

00:46It is the will of the world itself to end the blockade, the U.S.-imposed blockade of Cuba.

00:52But the U.S. continues to isolate itself from the international will of the people.

00:59This is just another example of that.

01:04Practically all member states, with the exception of about a dozen, have spoken in favor of lifting the blockade.

01:13Could this result be interpreted as a sign of decline of U.S. influence in the multilateral arena?

01:19Absolutely. And especially with the genocide happening in Palestine and in Gaza,

01:27we have seen the immorality of the United States and that they do not have any moral authority.

01:35Not only is their economic hegemony ending, but their moral authority is waning as well.

01:41And they are becoming quite naked in their authoritarianism.

01:44Also, this decision comes in the aftermath of the devastating passage of Hurricane Melissa through eastern Cuba.

01:53On your opinion, what practical impact will the blockade have on the island's recovery?

01:59Also, why is it lifting the blockade a necessity for Cuba, especially in this context?

02:04Absolutely. The blockade is going to impact recovery efforts in Cuba to a very intense degree,

02:12considering that, of course, materials will be needed to repair the damages caused by the storm.

02:18These materials and commodities are hard to acquire when Cuba is falsely placed on the state sponsor of terrorism list.

02:25And if we really compare this to a natural disaster that we had in the United States, I'm talking about Hurricane Katrina.

02:33Cuba offered to send hundreds of doctors to assist with that crisis.

02:37Of course, the president at the time, George W. Bush, declined.

02:42But it was absolutely a need, and especially the African community of the United States is very much in debt to Cuba.

02:48And one last question, going back to this result of the United Nations General Assembly, on your opinion,

02:56what are the lessons that have been left by this victory in this space, international space,

03:04in the face of the power that has been played by the symbolic diplomacy in front of the political cohesion imposed by the United States?

03:12Well, I think that the message from the world is clear, that Cuba is not alone, that the U.S. is becoming ever more isolated.

03:21The United States called itself a defender of democracy, yet the world's democratic will says end the blockade,

03:26and Washington continues to ignore it.

03:30Thank you very much.

03:31Thank you, Hakim, for your presence here from the South and speaking to our audiences in the context of the symbolic victory for Cuba.

03:39My pleasure.

Interview | Cuba secures new victory at the UNGA

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