The fundamental characteristics of the sanctions regime continue to punish Cuba, according to an extensive article published in the South African press today.
The Star newspaper reported the data under the title 'The Myth of relations between the US-Cuba', by journalist Shannon Ebrahim, international editor of Independent Media.
She said the change in policy by US President Barack Obama with regards to Cuba 'was a historical turning point', but it seems that most of the political establishment does not support it.
Despite his announcement on October 14th on a new policy orientation towards Havana, 'Cuban sick children are not allowed to have access in the United States to essential life-saving drugs if their parents belong to the Communist Party'. It is a double standard, she said.
'Instead of accepting the Cuban political system with both its shortcomings and its amazing achievements in health and education, there is only an insistence on changing it,' she stressed.
Ebrahim warned that the Obama's new policy orientation speaks of financial and material support from the US to 'change agents' in Cuba. That has 'neocolonial impact on the internal affairs of a neighboring country', she pointed out.
Cuba has chosen dialogue over confrontation. It is an optimistic belief that one day Cuban children will have access to essential medicines they need and which save lives, the journalist concluded.
On October 26th, at the headquarters of the UN General Assembly, the island won another victory against the hostile policy which has lasted more than 50 years.
A total of 191 countries supported the need to end the blockade and for the first time since 1992, the United States opted to abstain as did its ally Israel.