The high representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell, insisted that any international sanction weighing on countries like Cuba or Venezuela cannot harm the sending of humanitarian aid, especially during the coronavirus pandemic.
“Within the framework of the United Nations and the EU it’s very clear that our sanctions don’t pose problems in terms of facilitating humanitarian aid, but we ask that other countries that have established sanctions do so,”
Borrell said at a telematic press after a videoconference meeting of community defense ministers.
“That humanitarian exemptions to provide medical supplies and equipment to countries that are subject to sanctions – Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria or Venezuela – don’t avoid the development of humanitarian aid,” he added.
Borrell recalled that the EU position is summarized in that “it’s absolutely necessary that sanctions don’t impede humanitarian aid.”
He recalled “we have asked everyone give the necessary clarifications so everyone is sure that there will be no sanctions for those involved in channeling humanitarian aid.”
“We must make clear the needs that everyone has, because there are financial actors who are very reluctant to participate in sending humanitarian aid because they are afraid of falling into sanctions,” he explained.
The head of community diplomacy considered that “it must be clear that in these circumstances, more than ever”, “there will be no sanctions for those who participate in the exchange of goods and services that are related to humanitarian aid.”
