Unilateral sanctions unjustifiable :

Hostile anti-Cuban policies must end

Jayatilleke de Silva reporting from Vientianne

Enforcement of law and any imposition of unilateral sanction measure against a sovereign country in either direct or indirect means are unjustifiable and is considered as a violation of the general principles of international laws and moral principles of modern times, said Lao Democratic Republic National Assembly President Thongsing Thammavong addressing the V Asia - Pacific Regional Conference for Solidarity with Cuba held in Vientianne, capital city of Laos yesterday morning.

"The respect of dignity and human rights of the people of a country, who desire independence, freedom and sovereignty for undertaking socio-economic development in conformity with its realities and characteristics is necessary and fundamental to improve the current international relations," he added.

Therefore, the economic, commercial and financial blockade as well as other hostile policies against Cuba by the US Government over 50 years causing great damage to the people of Cuba must be ended unconditionally, he said.

Science and Technology Minister Prof. Tissa Vitarana said that the very fact that the Government and the people of Cuba have survived and made progress despite all the attempts of the imperialist forces led by the USA to defeat and destroy the Cuban revolution is a great achievement. In the present context when the US economy is in crisis and global economic power is tilting away from the US and Europe pressure on the US to remove the crippling embargo on Cuba must be intensified, he added.

The Conference held at the International Conference and Training Centre in Vientiane was attended by 67 delegates from 20 countries from the Asia-Pacific region and Cuba.