The economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States continues to be the main obstacle to the development of Cuba, said on Saturday Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, Minister for foreign affairs of the Republic of Cuba.

Speaking in the general debate of the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Mr. Rodriguez Parrilla stated that "economic aggression, regardless of the severity of threats and blackmail, will not get the slightest concession" from his country. During the past year, he said, the United States government had gradually and qualitatively strengthened its hostile actions and embargo against Cuba, adding new obstacles to foreign trade and intensifying the persecution of banking and financial relations between Cuba and the rest of the world.