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· Helfen statt Blockieren editorial team

39 quotes from different directions: United Nations, EU, governments on both sides, churches and aid organisations, business, human rights organisations. Each quote follows the wording of the source, briefly and with person, function, occasion and date. Translations are marked as such. The selection does not reflect an editorial opinion.

United Nations

“encouraging the waiving of sanctions imposed on countries to ensure access to food, essential health supplies”

António Guterres, UN Secretary-General. Letter to the G20 on the pandemic, 25 Mar 2020.1

“will worsen, if not collapse, if its oil needs go unmet”

Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General. Press briefing in New York on Cuba, 4 Feb 2026. Refers to the humanitarian situation in Cuba.2

“de-risking policies and over-compliance have been substantially exacerbating the humanitarian situation”

Alena Douhan, UN Special Rapporteur on unilateral coercive measures. End of visit statement, Havana, 21 Nov 2025.3

“I acknowledge Cuba’s primary responsibility for the promotion and protection human rights”

Alena Douhan, UN Special Rapporteur on unilateral coercive measures. Same statement, 21 Nov 2025. Wording as in the source, which lacks “of”.3

“we must all do everything in our power to help humanitarian partners reach the world’s most vulnerable”

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, US Ambassador to the UN. Security Council, introducing Resolution 2664, 9 Dec 2022.4

“This is not a panacea; it will take time for its effect to be implemented by States”

Fergal Mythen, Permanent Representative of Ireland, co-penholder of Resolution 2664. Security Council after the vote, 9 Dec 2022.4

“under no circumstances should be misused by proscribed terrorist groups to expand their terror activities”

Ruchira Kamboj, Permanent Representative of India. Security Council, explaining abstention on 2664, 9 Dec 2022. Refers to the humanitarian exemptions.4

“The greatest legal and political risk to humanitarian agencies does not come from Council sanctions”

Geng Shuang, Deputy Permanent Representative of China. Security Council on Resolution 2664, 9 Dec 2022.4

European Union

“If we use the blocking statute, we have one shot and we should do it well.”

Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. On US sanctions against the International Criminal Court, 20 Oct 2026.5

“The blocking statute could be part of the response, but we are not at that stage yet”

Siobhan McGarry, European Commission spokesperson. Daily press briefing, 14 Oct 2026.6

“release all political prisoners and those arbitrarily detained”

European Union, delivered by Hungary, explanation of vote on behalf of the EU and its member states. General Assembly, Cuba resolution, 30 Oct 2024. A call on the Cuban government.7

“Against this background, the Member States of the European Union voted unanimously in favour of the draft resolution.”

European Union, delivered by Hungary, explanation of vote on behalf of the EU and its member states. Same statement, 30 Oct 2024.7

“The EU and Cuba are truly turning a page”

Federica Mogherini, then EU High Representative. Entry into force of the agreement with Cuba, 31 Oct 2017.8

“The EBA’s findings suggest that de-risking has a detrimental impact on the achievement of EU’s objectives.”

European Banking Authority (EBA), EU authority. Opinion on de-risking, 5 Jan 2022.9

“The European Commission must immediately trigger the E.U. blocking statute”

David McAllister and Mounir Satouri, Members of the European Parliament; McAllister chairs the Committee on Foreign Affairs. Joint statement on US sanctions against the ICC, 9 Oct 2026.5

Governments

“There is no blockade.”

Mike Waltz, US Ambassador to the UN. General Assembly, debate on the Cuba resolution, 28 Oct 2026.10

“Diplomacy takes time, but now that we’ve had a tripling of countries that have shifted”

Mike Waltz, US Ambassador to the UN. After the vote, 28 Oct 2026.11

“U.S. sanctions in Syria will not stand in the way of life-saving efforts for the Syrian people.”

Wally Adeyemo, US Deputy Secretary of the Treasury. General License 23 after the Syria earthquakes, 9 Feb 2023.12

“There is no oil blockade against Cuba as such.”

Marco Rubio, US Secretary of State. White House press conference, 5 May 2026.13

“to deny resources to the very branches of the Cuban regime”

Marco Rubio, US Secretary of State. Reinstating the Cuba Restricted List on 1 February 2025, 1 Feb 2025.14

“What Cuba demands is to be left in peace”

Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, Foreign Minister of Cuba. General Assembly, debate on the Cuba resolution, 28 Oct 2026. English rendering by the outlet10

“The US government is once again isolated in its attempt to continue strangling the Cuban people”

Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, Foreign Minister of Cuba. Post on X after the vote, 28 Oct 2026. English rendering by the outlet11

«un acto de valor y de soberanía, frente a las coacciones para que no lo hicieran»

Translation: Helfen statt Blockieren: “an act of courage and sovereignty, in the face of pressure not to do so”

Miguel Díaz-Canel, President of Cuba. Post on X about the states that voted in favour, 29 Oct 2026.15

„Eine Blockade dieser Art, wie Sie sie beschreiben, sehe ich nicht.“

Translation: Helfen statt Blockieren: “I do not see a blockade of the kind you describe.”

Johann Wadephul, German Federal Foreign Minister. Citizens’ dialogue at the federal government open day, answering a question on Cuba, June 2026.16

Churches and aid organisations

«un dialogo sincero y eficaz para evitar la violencia»

Translation: Helfen statt Blockieren: “a sincere and effective dialogue to avoid violence”

Pope Leo XIV, Pope. After the Angelus in St Peter’s Square, appeal to the US and Cuba, 1 Feb 2026. Spanish rendering by the outlet17

«Cuba necesita cambios y son cada vez más urgentes, pero no necesita para nada más angustias ni dolor»

Translation: Helfen statt Blockieren: “Cuba needs changes and they are ever more urgent, but it does not need any more anguish or pain”

Conference of Catholic Bishops of Cuba, Bishops’ Conference. Message to all Cubans, 31 Jan 2026.18

“For decades, we have called for the U.S. travel ban and embargo against Cuba to be lifted.”

Bishop Oscar Cantú, Chairman of the Committee on International Justice and Peace, US Conference of Catholic Bishops. Statement on the new US Cuba policy, 19 Jun 2017.19

“We encourage states to put this humanitarian carve-out into practice, including through national laws and regulations.”

Mirjana Spoljaric, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross. On the adoption of Resolution 2664, 9 Dec 2022.20

“the resolution has allowed us to support people in need more efficiently, effectively, and safely.”

Camilla Waszink, Executive Director of Partnerships and Policy, Norwegian Refugee Council. First anniversary of Resolution 2664, 15 Dec 2023.21

“They just don’t want to get involved.”

Kate Phillips-Barrasso, Director of humanitarian policy, InterAction. On banks and transfers to Afghanistan, 17 Jan 2022.22

“It’s just not in the interests of the banks to get involved”

Jean-François Riffaud, CEO, Action Contre la Faim. On banks and transfers to Afghanistan, 17 Jan 2022.22

Business

“U.S. private sector engagement can be a positive force for the kind of change we all wish to see in Cuba.”

Myron Brilliant, Executive Vice President, U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Statement on the new US Cuba policy, 16 Jun 2017.23

“send a whole lot of Americans down there to talk about what life is really like”

Thomas Donahue, President of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. News conference on Cuba policy, as reported, 6 May 2009. Date of the report; according to it the news conference took place shortly before.24

Human rights

“Cuba must free, without conditions, those who never should have been imprisoned.”

Ana Piquer, Americas Regional Director, Amnesty International. One year after selective releases in Cuba, 19 Jan 2026.25

“The government continues to repress and punish dissent and public criticism.”

Human Rights Watch, human rights organisation. World Report 2026, Cuba chapter, 4 Feb 2026.26

“maintaining a decades-long embargo that further undermines access to economic rights”

Human Rights Watch, human rights organisation. World Report 2026, Cuba chapter, on US policy, 4 Feb 2026.26

“The imposition of sanctions does not diminish the human rights obligations of the targeted state.”

Human Rights Watch, human rights organisation. Report “Maximum Pressure” on Iran, 29 Oct 2019.27

“do not depend on external sanctions, but rather on the lack of political will of the State.”

Council for Democratic Transition in Cuba (CTDC), Cuban opposition platform. Appeal to the UN Special Rapporteur before her visit, 16 Nov 2025. Refers to human rights violations in Cuba; English rendering by CiberCuba.29

Research

“The rigging of the 1999 Unicef survey was an especially masterful fraud.”

Tim Dyson, Professor of Population Studies, London School of Economics. Study on child mortality in Iraq under sanctions, 25 Jul 2017.30

Figures marked “according to information given to” are not the cited body’s own measurements but information presented to it.

This page is information, not legal advice. It reports what authorities, courts, governments and organisations decide and say; the views of the side imposing measures and of the side affected stand side by side. “Helfen statt Blockieren” is non-partisan. Please report errors to info@aciel-martinez-poll.com.

Sources

  1. Africa Renewal (Vereinte Nationen), “COVID-19: Letter from the Secretary-General to G-20 Members”, 25 Mar 2020. https://africarenewal.un.org/en/magazine/covid-19-letter-secretary-general-g-20-members
  2. The Peninsula (AFP), “UN chief warns of humanitarian collapse in Cuba over oil shortage”, 4 Feb 2026. https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/04/02/2026/un-chief-warns-of-humanitarian-collapse-in-cuba-over-oil-shortage
  3. OHCHR, Special Rapporteur Alena Douhan, Preliminary findings of the visit to Cuba, end of mission statement, 11 to 21 November 2025, 21 Nov 2025. Many figures there are marked “reportedly”, i.e. based on information presented to her. https://www.ecoi.net/en/file/local/2133521/20251121-eom-stm-cuba-sr-negative-impact-unilateral-en.pdf
  4. UN Security Council, press release SC/15134 (9214. meeting), Report on the adoption of Resolution 2664 (2022), 9 Dec 2022. https://press.un.org/en/node/311942
  5. TIME (Callum Sutherland), “How Europe Is Defying Trump by Rallying Around the ICC”, 29 Oct 2026. https://time.com/article/2026/10/29/how-europe-is-defying-trump-by-rallying-around-the-icc/
  6. Agence Europe, “US sanctions against ICC: European Commission favours dialogue despite calls from 58 MEPs to activate blocking statute”, 14 Oct 2026. https://agenceurope.eu/en/bulletin/article/13960/15/us-sanctions-against-icc-european-commission-favours-dialogue-despite-calls-from-58-meps-to-activate-blocking-statute
  7. European External Action Service, Delegation to the UN in New York, “EU Explanation of Vote: UN General Assembly: Embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba”, 30 Oct 2024. https://www.eeas.europa.eu/delegations/un-new-york/eu-explanation-vote-%E2%80%93-un-general-assembly-embargo-imposed-united-states-america-against-cuba_en
  8. EU Reporter, “EU-Cuba landmark agreement entering into force on 1 November”, 31 Oct 2017. https://www.eureporter.co/frontpage/2017/10/31/eu-cuba-landmark-agreement-entering-into-force-on-1-november/
  9. European Banking Authority (EBA), EBA/Op/2022/01, “EBA alerts on the detrimental impact of unwarranted de-risking and ineffective management of money laundering and terrorist financing risks”, 5 Jan 2022. https://www.eba.europa.eu/publications-and-media/press-releases/eba-alerts-detrimental-impact-unwarranted-de-risking-and
  10. UN News, “Backing for UN call to end Cuba embargo falls to 20-year low”, 28 Oct 2026. https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/10/1168694
  11. Reuters (Antoni Slodkowski), republished by GV Wire, “US Gets More Countries to Oppose UN Resolution Condemning Its Cuba Embargo”, 28 Oct 2026. https://gvwire.com/2026/10/28/us-gets-more-countries-to-oppose-un-resolution-condemning-its-cuba-embargo/
  12. US Treasury, press release JY1261, “Treasury Issues Syria General License 23 To Aid In Earthquake Disaster Relief Efforts”, 9 Feb 2023. https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy1261
  13. CiberCuba (White House press conference), “Marco Rubio dismantles the Cuban regime: “There is no oil blockade, free oil is over.””, 5 May 2026. https://en.cibercuba.com/noticias/2026-05-05-u1-e135253-s27061-nid328204-marco-rubio-desmonta-al-regimen-cubano-hay-bloqueo
  14. Havana Times (after 14ymedio), “Western Union Suspends Money Transfers to Cuba”, 8 Feb 2025. https://havanatimes.org/news/western-union-suspends-money-transfers-to-cuba
  15. teleSUR, “Cuba agradece a los 130 países que votaron contra el bloqueo estadounidense en la ONU”, 30 Oct 2026. https://www.telesurtv.net/cuba-agradecepaises-bloqueo-onu/
  16. Berliner Zeitung, “Streit um US-Blockade: Kuba widerspricht Außenminister Wadephul”, 26 Jun 2026. https://www.berliner-zeitung.de/article/streit-um-us-blockade-kuba-widerspricht-aussenminister-wadephul-10136760
  17. 24horas.cl, “León XIV pide diálogo entre Estados Unidos y Cuba”, 1 Feb 2026. https://www.24horas.cl/internacional/noticias/leon-xiv-pide-dialogo-entre-estados-unidos-y-cuba-
  18. EWTN Noticias / ACI Prensa (message of the Cuban Bishops’ Conference of 31.1.2026), “Obispos alertan que Cuba corre el riesgo de un caos social si no hay cambios urgentes”, 2 Feb 2026. https://www.ewtnnews.com/es/mundo/america/obispos-alertan-que-cuba-corre-el-riesgo-de-un-caos-social-si-no-hay-cambios-urgentes
  19. U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, “Chairman of International Justice and Peace Statement on Cuba Policy Changes”, 19 Jun 2017. https://www.usccb.org/news/2017/us-conference-catholic-bishops-chairman-international-justice-and-peace-statement-cuba
  20. International Committee of the Red Cross, “ICRC applauds UN Security Council’s adoption of a resolution protecting humanitarian activities”, 9 Dec 2022. https://www.icrc.org/en/document/icrc-applauds-un-security-councils-adoption-resolution-protecting-humanitarian-activities
  21. Norwegian Refugee Council, Statement on the first anniversary of Resolution 2664, 15 Dec 2023. https://www.nrc.no/news/2024/december/un-security-council-humanitarian-exemption-to-sanctions
  22. Devex (David Ainsworth), “Sanctions and banks make it a struggle to get money into Afghanistan”, 17 Jan 2022. https://www.devex.com/news/sanctions-and-banks-make-it-a-struggle-to-get-money-into-afghanistan-102448
  23. U.S. Chamber of Commerce, “U.S. Chamber Statement on Administration’s Cuba Policy Announcement”, 16 Jun 2017. https://uschamber.com/international/us-chamber-statement-administration-s-cuba-policy-announcement
  24. Voice of America, “US Chamber of Commerce Supports Lifting Trade Embargo on Cuba”, 6 May 2009. https://www.voanews.com/a/a-13-2009-05-06-voa8-68688572/409000.html
  25. Amnesty International, “Cuba: One year after selective releases, we demand the immediate release of people detained for political reasons”, 19 Jan 2026. https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2026/01/cuba-a-un-ano-de-excarcelaciones-selectivas-exigimos-libertad-inmediata-para-las-personas-presas-por-motivos-politicos/
  26. Human Rights Watch, “World Report 2026: Cuba”, 4 Feb 2026. https://www.ecoi.net/en/document/2136203.html
  27. Human Rights Watch, ““Maximum Pressure”: US Economic Sanctions Harm Iranians’ Right to Health”, 29 Oct 2019. https://www.hrw.org/report/2019/10/29/maximum-pressure/us-economic-sanctions-harm-iranians-right-health
  28. Diario Las Américas, “Represión en Cuba suma nuevo récord de presos políticos”, 11 Jun 2026. https://www.diariolasamericas.com/america-latina/represion-cuba-suma-nuevo-record-presos-politicos-n5397009
  29. CiberCuba, “Cuban regime seeks support from UN rapporteur on sanctions while civil society calls to be heard”, 16 Nov 2025. https://en.cibercuba.com/node/314975
  30. London School of Economics, on Dyson and Cetorelli, BMJ Global Health 2017, “Iraqi government misreported child mortality, LSE research finds”, 25 Jul 2017. https://lse.ac.uk/News/Latest-news-from-LSE/2017/07-July-2017/Iraqi-government-misreported-child-mortality-LSE-research-finds.aspx

All online sources accessed on 3 November 2026.

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