Cuomo, Raul Castro meet at United Nations, talk economic ties

When Raul Castro address some 140 heads of state or government at the UN General Assembly it will be the first time in 15 years that a Cuban president speaks to the forum.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo and President Raul Castro met Friday afternoon at the Cuban mission to the United Nations in New York City. Today’s program also includes a meeting with US lawmakers, including Democrats Barbara Lee (California), James McGovern (Massachusetts) and Jose Serrano, Charles Rangel, Nidia Velazquez and Gregory Meeks (all for New York). The Pope concluded his 4-day visit to Cuba on Tuesday, where he met with Raul and Fidel Castro.

In coming days, the Cuban head of State will hold talks with presidents who traveled to the United Nations, businessmen, members of the solidarity with the Caribbean island, and Cuban residents.

He says the re-establishment of diplomatic relations between his country and the United States constitutes “major progress”, but the USA economic blockade against Cuba is the “main obstacle” to his country’s development.

Since the rapprochement with Cuba, President Barack Obama’s administration has expressed support for lifting the embargo, but the decision rests with Congress, where a Republican majority opposes the move.

Cuba estimates the embargo has caused $121 billion in damage to its economy.

Castro argued that the embargo affects other nations that face punishment for investing in Cuba under United States laws, and that it was “hurting the interests of American citizens and companies”. It has launched a campaign for the General Assembly to again adopt the resolution calling for the embargo to be lifted.

More than 160 world leaders are arriving in New York for the United Nations development summit, followed by the UN General Assembly debate opening Monday.