US abstains from UN resolution condemning Cuban embargo

The United States took another step towards reconciliation with Cuba on Wednesday when it abstained from voting against a UN resolution condemning the economic embargo against the island.

The decision broke with 25 years of US policy of opposing a similar resolution.

“The United States has always voted against this resolution. Today, the United States will abstain,” said UN ambassador Samantha Power in her speech at the UN General Assembly before the vote. The audience, which included Cuba’s foreign minister Bruno Rodriguez, broke into applause.

The resolution passed with 191 countries voting in favor and the United States and Israel abstaining.

Ben Rhodes, a senior administration official, released a statement through Twitter detailing why the Obama administration would finally abstain.

During his second term, President Barack Obama has done a complete 180-degree turn on US policy towards Cuba. Last year, he became the first president in almost 90 years to visit the country.

But only Congress can reverse the embargo. Several senators, including from President Obama’s own party, were quick to condemn the administration’s UN vote.

Republican senator Ted Cruz and Democratic senator Bob Menendez, both Cuban-American, lashed out against the decision on Twitter.

The Obama administration has been criticized for giving too many concessions to Cuba while not receiving a guarantee that the Cuban government will improve its human rights record.

In her speech, ambassador Power tried to assuage some of those fears.

“We are profoundly concerned by the human rights violations the Cuban government continues to commit with impunity against its own people,” Power said, referring to the government’s intimidation of political opponents.