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10/26/11 (AEIN) The U.N. General Assembly passed a resolution on Tuesday calling for an end to the trade sanctions imposed upon neighboring Cuba by the U.S. government. Only the United States and Israel voted against the resolution, Cuban state radio reported.
Palau, Micronesia and the Marshall Islands abstained. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez accused the U.S. of working to overthrow Cuba's government and described U.S. elections as "auction sales," according to a statement issued by the United Nations.
U.S. representative Ronald Godard rejected the resolution, saying that it aimed to "obscure" and "confuse" nations voting on it. He went on to condemn the Cuban government and stated that the trade sanctions were not an appropriate concern of the General Assembly.
In addition to heavily restricting tourism and trade with Cuba, the U.S. government periodically attempts to prevent foreign countries from trading with the island nation. The U.S. also maintains sanctions on countries such as Iran and Myanmar.