The National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA adds its voice to the chorus of those thanking President Obama and Ambassador Samantha Power for their action today in support of normalizing relations between the United States and Cuba. For the first time in 25 years, the US abstained on a U.N. resolution condemning the U.S. embargo against Cuba, a resolution that has been presented annually.
“This abstention is yet another signal that the United States is ready to normalize relations with Cuba,” said NCC President and General Secretary Jim Winkler. “We receive this news with gratitude and celebrate with our counterpart, the Cuban Council of Churches. The next step is for the US Congress to lift the blockade against Cuba.”
The NCC, along with the Cuban Council of Churches, has worked for decades to bring an end to the embargo. We join together in celebrating this symbolic, but important step that comes on the heels of the lowering of other trade restrictions. We continue to call on Congress to end the embargo which has lasted over half a century.