> UN chief says US should reconsider Cuba embargo > 07:37 p.m Apr 29, 1997 Eastern > > UNITED NATIONS, April 29 (Reuter) - U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan on > Tuesday said he hoped the United States would reconsider its 30-year-old > embargo against Cuba soon. > > ``Let me say that the sanctions have been enforced for over 30 years and > Cuba is still managing somehow,'' he said in response to a question. ``I > would really hope the time will come in the not-too-distant future when > that embargo will be reconsidered.'' > > Answering queries during a global forum organised by the CNN cable news > network, Annan hesitated at first, apparently realising the controversy his > answer might provoke. > > ``I thought you were a friend,'' he teased the questioner, adding: ``I know > you didn't expect this answer but I think it is the way I feel.'' > > He said he thought Cuba's natural market was the United States and there > were situations in which more positive change could be brought about by > opening a door than by closing one. > > ``I think we've seen it in the former Soviet Union. We've seen it in the > Russian Federation,'' he said. ``And in fact we need to look at all these > examples and say 'What is the best approach in fostering change, in > encouraging democratic practices and ensuring that people have the human > rights that they need.''' > > Annan said the world needed to take a broad view of security and understand > that when people have a meaningful economic and social life they are often > able to influence their own governments. > > The U.N. General Assembly for the past five years has adopted a resolution > by an overwhelming majority calling for the end of the U.S. economic > embargo against Cuba. Only the United States, Israel and Uzbekistan voted > against the resolution last November, while 25 other nations abstained. > > >
