New York Gov. Cuomo, Cuban President Castro talk economic development and trade

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is meeting with Cuban President Raul Castro.

The Obama administration may allow the U.N.to condemn America’s economic embargo against Cuba without a fight, The Associated Press has learned, an unprecedented step that could increase pressure on Congress to end the 54-year-old restrictions. The two men spoke by phone just prior to Pope Francis’s visit this week to both countries.

But it’s not all expected to be smooth sailing.

The United Nations General Assembly has approved a resolution calling on the U.S.to lift its crippling commercial, economic and financial embargo on Cuba 32 consecutive years. The Cuban government has said the measure will acknowledge the renewed diplomatic ties between Cuba and the USA, but still express concern about the ongoing sanctions, which President Obama has said he wants to work with Congress to lift. But this time, US officials told the AP that the United States could abstain instead of voting against the resolution as it normally does. The General Assembly has approved the resolution for 23 consecutive years. Kirby declined to say what position the US would take on the resolution.

Cuba estimates that more than $121 billion in damage has been inflicted on its economy from the embargo, which was imposed in retaliation for Cuba’s nationalization of USA properties on the island.

“Amid the current economic and financial crisis, wealthy individuals and multinational companies get richer all the time, while the number of the poor, the unemployed and the homeless rises dramatically due to the cruel policies that go by the name of austerity”, the Cuban president said.

The historic Cuban leader is famous for uttering interminable speeches of several hours, including his four and a half hour address to the UN General Assembly in September 1960, when he especially criticized the United States.