Santiago de Chile, Chile.-A panel of experts has discussed the U.S. blockade on Cuba for more than 50 years, and reiterated the call toward its end, on occasion of the devastating UN vote this week.

At the headquarters of the former National Congress of Chile, representatives of solidarity groups with Cuba, academicians and diplomats have offered their views on the Washington economic, financial and commercial siege.

With 191 for and two abstentions, the UN General Assembly adopted again a resolution on Wednesday, October 26, calling for the lifting of the blockade.

Academician Patricio Asencio Stuardo acknowledged Cuba’s solidarity with Chile throughout history and particularly when many exiles were hosted after the September 11, 1973 coup d’état.

He was excited by ‘the great victory of Cuba at UN’ facing the prolonged and cruel blockade with the obvious aim of destroying and overthrowing its Revolution, from the moment of its victory on January 1, 1959.

He considered that despite the blockade was formalized in February 1962, the United States launched before clear signs that it was on its way to an act of war of this nature that has caused considerable material losses to the Caribbean island.

For his part, lawyer Alejandro Guzman explained that throughout history, Washington has ignored the international law as often as wanted and the case of the siege against Cuba is a graphic example.

The counselor of the Cuban embassy in Chile, Sergio Martinez, stated that the blockade has been curious in the sense that it is an aberration of the own U.S. laws.

He recalled that the blockade also covers foreign companies, banks, financial institutions and shipping companies, and violates the constitutional rights of the Americans.

Many members of the solidarity groups with Cuba in Chile and Bolivia and Cuban diplomats participated in the meeting.